EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MINISTER STEPHANIE CADIEUX

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH 
MINISTER STEPHANIE CADIEUX

PORT MOODY, British Columbia -- Wheelchair-bound Cadieux is a Canadian politician, who was elected as a BC Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2009 provincial election, representing the riding of Surrey-Panorama. She is currently the Minister of Social Development, having previously served as Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government and Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
Cadieux currently chairs the Cabinet Committee on Open Government and Engagement and is a member of the Cabinet Priorities and Planning Committee. She is also a member of the Select Standing Committees on Health and on Children and Youth, and a former member of the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.


PARAPLEGIC


Cadieux, formerly the director of marketing and development for the BC Paraplegic Association, has been a wheelchair user since a car accident at age 18. She is the second wheelchair user, following Doug Mowat, ever elected to the provincial legislature.
Before her life in public office, she served as the director of marketing and development for the BC Paraplegic Association and manager of accessibility for 2010 Legacies Now Society. Her leadership and resourcefulness led her to be voted one of Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 Under 40 for 2007.


VOLUNTEERISM


She has also long demonstrated her commitment to volunteerism and non-profit organizations, whether in her community or beyond. She has served as President of the Realwheels Society; Ambassador for the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation; a researcher and member of the advisory panel for the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), a member of the Diversity Advisory Committee for Global BC and as a mentor with the YWCA.


DELEGATE


She has traveled extensively including Europe, Central America, Africa and North America, some of which has been as a delegate for international development work with people with disabilities in developing countries.