Jane Jae Kyung Shin

First Korean-Canadian elected to the Legislative Assembly (2013)

Jane Jae Kyung Shin was born in South Korea and immigrated to Canada with her family at the age of 11. She studied cell biology and genetics at the University of British Columbia before pursuing a medical doctorate degree from Spartan Health Sciences University in Saint Lucia.

Shin has been actively involved in community service from a young age, volunteering for organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross Society. She has taught at Vancouver Community College, West Coast College of Massage Therapy, and the British Columbia Institute of Technology, where she also served as the Head of Department in Health Care Management.

Shin ran successfully as the New Democratic Party candidate for the riding of Burnaby-Lougheed in the 2013 provincial general election. With her victory, she became the first Korean-Canadian elected to the Legislative Assembly.

Following her election, Shin held a number of roles in Opposition, serving as deputy spokesperson for tourism, arts and culture, immigration, intergovernmental relations, trade and multiculturalism, and as spokesperson for small business.