Joan Smallwood

Who is Joan Smallwood?

Joan Kathleen Smallwood is a former politician in British Columbia. She represented Surrey-Guildford-Whalley from 1986 to 1991 and Surrey-Whalley from 1991 to 2001 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as a New Democratic Party member.

She was born Joan Kathleen Beech in Vancouver, British Columbia, the daughter of Lester Beech. In 1970, she married Larry Smallwood. She worked for Langley Family Services before entering politics. Smallwood served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Women's Equality, as Minister of Labour, as Minister of Housing, Recreation and Consumer Services, as Minister of Social Services and as Minister of Women's Equality. In 1996, she ran for the leadership of the provincial NDP. Smallwood was defeated by Elayne Brenzinger when she ran for reelection to the assembly in 2001.