womenscampaignschool.org

Co-chair 2009 Women’s Campaign School

First elected MLA for Richmond East in 1991 and re-elected in 1996, 2001 and 2005. Linda Reid has built her reputation on a long list of accomplishments, a willingness to seek practical, common-sense solutions to problems and a dedication and loyalty to her constituents.

Linda Reid’s career has been one of firsts. She was the first Canadian legislator to champion landmark legislation for grandparents and grandchildren’s rights. She was the first to advocate for family strengthening programs to provide greater resources to families in crisis. Linda also made history when she became the first woman in British Columbia to give birth to two children while in office.

Linda’s top priorities are children and families, care for young children, education, health care and the environment. She is a nationally recognized leader, unstoppable when it comes to issues affecting children and moderate and low-income working families. She is well known for her down-to-earth manner and her ability to explain complex issues in simple, understandable ways.

Linda Reid has served as Minister of State for Childcare since 2005. She served as the Minister of State for Early Childhood Development from 2001 – 2005. A forceful voice for children, under her direction, the province has created more than 6,000 new childcare spaces, supported more than 90,000 spaces in 4,600 licensed child care facilities and brought the provincial staffing level up to 10,500 actively licensed early childhood educators.

Well-known as an advocate of quality public education, Linda Reid sits as a member of the Treasury Board and as a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Education.

Linda’s dedication to opening doors and advancing women in politics has brought her national recognition. Since the 1990s, she has been active in the Women’s Campaign School, sponsored by the Canadian Women Voters Congress, where she has served as co-chair. Highly regarded for her encouragement to women considering careers in politics and for her willingness to share her political knowledge and skills, Linda Reid has been the subject of numerous articles and is profiled in Anne Edward’s book, Seeking Balance: Conversations with BC’s Political Women.

Linda is a tireless champion for her constituents in Richmond East. She has worked to successfully to bring in a wide range of programs and services. These include providing funding for English training services to adult newcomers, improving local cycling and pedestrian paths and expanding bicycle ferry service through the Deas Tunnel, improving patient access to medical care at Richmond General Hospital, and supporting her constituents wishes to leave the Garden City Lands in the ALR. In recognition of her work, Linda has received numerous awards including the Melvin Jones Fellowship, the highest recognition granted by the Lions Club.

A fourth generation Canadian, Reid received a bachelor’s degree in Education and a Masters degree in Educational Administration from the University of British Columbia. Before her election to the Legislative Assembly, Linda Reid worked as a language therapist, teacher and school administrator for the Richmond School District.

As a volunteer, Linda was the BC chair for the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind and a director of the Garden City Hospice Society. She has been active in the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the Asia-Pacific Business Association, the Canadian Council for Exceptional Children and the Family Court Committee of Richmond. She was a founding member of the Richmond Chinatown Lions Club and was chair of the British Columbia Youth Parliament board from 1986 to 1991.

Linda shares her passion for public service to the city of Richmond with her husband, Sheldon and their children Olivia, age 8 and Will, age 4.