George Chow
MLA
周烱華
Minister of State for Trade of British Columbia
In office
July 18, 2017 – December 7, 2022
PremierJohn Horgan
David Eby
Preceded byPosition Created
Succeeded byJagrup Brar
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Vancouver-Fraserview
Assumed office
May 9, 2017
Preceded bySuzanne Anton
Vancouver City Councillor
In office
November 19, 2005 – December 5, 2011
Personal details
Born1950 or 1951
China
Political partyNew Democratic Party (provincial)
Vision Vancouver (municipal)
Residence(s)Vancouver, British Columbia
George Chow
Traditional Chinese周烱華
Simplified Chinese周烱华

George Chow (Chinese: 周烱華) is a Canadian politician. He was elected as a New Democratic Party Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2017 provincial election, representing the riding of Vancouver-Fraserview, and served as the Minister of State for Trade from 2017 to 2022. He was previously a two-term Vancouver City Councillor who was elected as a member of the Vision Vancouver party in 2005 and 2008.[1] Prior to being elected Chow worked at BC Hydro for over 30 years, where he worked part-time when he was a councillor.[1]

Background

Chow was born in China[1][2] in either 1950 or 1951, and emigrated to Canada from Hong Kong in 1965 at the age of 14 and settled in Vancouver.[3] His father was a cook, and his mother a farm worker.[2] After immigrating, Chow grew up in the Downtown Eastside.[1] He initially enrolled at William Dawson School and then transferred to Britannia Secondary School.[2] He went on to complete a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of British Columbia.[2]

Political career

He first ran for council as an independent in 2002 because of his opposition to the proposed safe injection site in the Downtown Eastside near Chinatown.[2] Chow reassessed his position on the safe injection site following its 2003 opening[4] and was subsequently recruited by Vision Vancouver to join its slate for his successful 2005 campaign.[1] He was re-elected for a second term in 2008.[5]

He also served on many community organizations as a volunteer including: the Urban Spirit Foundation, Vancouver Public Library Board, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC, Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association, S.U.C.C.E.S.S., and various family associations. He was actively involved with the building of the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver's Chinatown during the 1970s and 1980s.

Electoral record

2020 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Fraserview
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticGeorge Chow12,24756.37+7.80$42,403.53
LiberalDavid Grewal7,51134.57−7.65$64,241.50
GreenFrançoise Raunet1,9699.06+1.34$243.99
Total valid votes 21,727100.00–
Total rejected ballots 1700.78−0.27
Turnout 21,89750.22−10.33
Registered voters 43,602
New Democratic hold Swing +0.08
Source: Elections BC[6][7]
2017 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Fraserview
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticGeorge Chow11,48748.57+4.01$68,196
LiberalSuzanne Anton9,98542.22-4.52$69,911
GreenEric Kolotyluk1,8267.72+2.04$2,357
LibertarianHiroshi Hyde1790.76–$56
Your Political PartyHarpreet S. Bajwa1740.73–$8,399
Total valid votes 23,651100.00–
Total rejected ballots 2521.05-0.1
Turnout 23,90360.55+5.59
Registered voters 39,479
Source: Elections BC[8][9]
2013 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Langara
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalMoira Stilwell10,23452.60
New DemocraticGeorge Chow7,44738.28
GreenRegan-Heng Zhang1,0555.42
ConservativeGurjinder Bains6743.46
PlatinumEspavo Sozo450.23
Total valid votes 19,455100.00
Total rejected ballots 1720.88
Turnout 19,62750.52
Source: Elections BC[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Councillor George Chow" Archived December 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Vancouver City Website, Accessed August 29, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Vision's George Chow: Chinatown/DTES Native Son" Archived 2013-02-04 at archive.today, Vancouver Observer, December 11, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Vancouver Observer: Vision's George Chow: Chinatown/DTES Native Son". Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  4. ↑ "The Conversion of George Chow", The Tyee, October 19, 2005.
  5. ↑ "Election Results: November 15, 2008", Vancouver City Website, Accessed August 29, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Statement of Votes — 42nd Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "2017 Provincial General Election Preliminary Voting Results". Elections BC. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  9. ↑ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
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