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Melanie Mark
Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak
Melanie Mark.jpg
Minister without Portfolio
In office
September 28, 2022 – April 14, 2023
Premier John Horgan
David Eby
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Position abolished
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport of British Columbia
In office
November 26, 2020 – September 28, 2022
Premier John Horgan
Preceded by Lisa Beare (Tourism, Arts and Culture)
Succeeded by Lisa Beare
Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training of British Columbia
In office
July 18, 2017 – November 26, 2020
Premier John Horgan
Preceded by Linda Reid (Advanced Education)
Shirley Bond (Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training)
Succeeded by Anne Kang
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant
In office
February 2, 2016 – April 14, 2023
Preceded by Jenny Kwan
Succeeded by Joan Phillip
Personal details
Born 1975
Political party New Democrat
Children 2
Alma mater Simon Fraser University

Melanie Joy Mark (born in 1975) is a Canadian politician from British Columbia. Her Nisga'a name is Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak. She was a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP).

Melanie Mark served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant. She held this role from 2016 to 2023. She was also a minister in the government. From 2017 to 2020, she was the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training. Then, from 2020 to 2022, she was the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.

Melanie Mark made history as the first First Nations woman. She was the first to be elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. She was also the first First Nations woman to serve in the Cabinet of British Columbia. She announced her resignation as an MLA and cabinet minister on February 22, 2023. Her resignation became official on April 14, 2023.

Melanie Mark's Early Life and Education

Melanie Mark has Nisga'a, Gitxsan, Cree, and Ojibwe family roots. She grew up in the Downtown Eastside area of Vancouver. Melanie faced many challenges growing up. She was supported by her aunts and grandparents through difficult times, including the loss of her younger brother and her parents' struggles.

She attended six different high schools. These included Van Tech and Charles Tupper. Melanie was the first person in her family to graduate from high school. She also went on to college and university.

Her Path to Higher Education

Melanie earned a diploma in criminology. This was from a program by Native Education College and Douglas College. She then studied political science and sociology at Simon Fraser University (SFU). She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2005. She also completed an advanced certificate from Queen's School of Business.

Early Career and Community Work

Melanie Mark worked with several organizations. She helped the Native Court Workers' Association. She also worked at Covenant House, which helps young people. She spent a summer working with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Hazelton. She was also a national project coordinator for Save the Children Canada.

From 2000 to 2006, Melanie was the president of the Urban Native Youth Association. She also helped start the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre. In 2007, she began working for the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth. This office helps young people and families in British Columbia. She became an associate deputy representative there in 2013.

Awards and Recognition

Melanie Mark has received several awards for her work.

  • In 2006, she received the YWCA Vancouver Young Woman of Distinction Award.
  • In 2015, she was given the Chief Joe Mathias Leadership Award.
  • In 2016, she received the first Janusz Korczak Medal for Children's Rights Advocacy.
  • In 2018, she received the Stenberg College, Be the Change, Community Leadership Award.

Melanie Mark has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Melanie Mark's Political Career

Melanie Mark decided to enter politics when Jenny Kwan resigned as MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant. Jenny Kwan was running in a federal election. Melanie Mark won the NDP nomination on June 14, 2015.

Becoming an MLA

On February 2, 2016, a special election was held. Melanie Mark won with 61% of the votes. She defeated candidates from the Liberal and Green parties. This made her the first Indigenous woman elected to the British Columbia Legislature. She was re-elected in the 2017 general election. That July, she became the Minister of Advanced Education in the NDP government.

Helping Students in British Columbia

As Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, Melanie Mark made important changes. She helped make college and university more affordable for people in British Columbia.

  • She created the Provincial Tuition Waiver program. This program helps young people from the foster care system attend college or university without paying tuition.
  • She also helped create the B.C. Access Grant. This grant gives money to students from low- and middle-income families. It helps them pay for full-time studies at colleges and universities.
  • She removed fees for Adult Basic Education and English language learning programs.
  • She also removed interest on provincial student loans.

Other Government Roles

After the 2020 election, Melanie Mark became the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. This happened on November 26. On September 28, 2022, she announced she would take medical leave. She then stepped down from her cabinet role. She was appointed a minister without portfolio, which means she was still a minister but without a specific department.

Resignation from Politics

On February 22, 2023, Melanie Mark announced she would resign as an MLA and cabinet minister. In her resignation speech, she spoke about how difficult it can be to make changes in government. She said she would continue to speak up for what she believes in from outside of the Legislature. Her resignation became official on April 14, 2023. A special election was held on June 24, 2023, to choose a new MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant.

Electoral record

British Columbia general election, 2020: Vancouver-Mount Pleasant
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Melanie Mark 14,530 66.95 +1.62 $22,210.72
Green Kelly Tatham 4,356 20.07 +3.14 $5,570.94
Liberal George Vassilas 2,816 12.98 −3.05 $8,413.63
Total valid votes 21,702 100.00
Total rejected ballots 212 0.97 −0.07
Turnout 21,914 48.01 −9.61
Registered voters 45,644
New Democratic hold Swing −0.76
Source: Elections BC
British Columbia general election, 2017: Vancouver-Mount Pleasant
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Melanie Mark 15,962 65.33 +5.19 $40,109
Green Jerry Kroll 4,136 16.93 −10.14 $68,641
Liberal Conny Lin 3,917 16.03 +4.74 $32,647
Independent Mike Hansen 212 0.87 $30
Communist Peter Marcus 135 0.55 $0
Your Political Party Shai Joseph Mor 72 0.29 −0.36 $85
Total valid votes 24,434 100.00
Total rejected ballots 256 1.04 +0.58
Turnout 24,690 57.62 +34.45
Registered voters 42,848
Source: Elections BC
British Columbia provincial by-election, February 2, 2016: Vancouver-Mount Pleasant
Resignation of Jenny Kwan
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Melanie Mark 5,627 60.14 −5.69 $71,603
Green Pete Fry 2,533 27.07 +15.16 $29,065
Liberal Gavin Dew 1,056 11.29 −7.46 $66,547
Libertarian Bonnie Boya Hu 79 0.84 $250
Your Political Party Jeremy Gustafson 61 0.65 $454
Total valid votes 9,356 99.53
Total rejected ballots 44 0.47 −0.51
Turnout 9,400 23.17 −26.60
Registered voters 40,561
New Democratic hold Swing −10.42


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