Janis Irwin
MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
Assumed office
April 16, 2019
Preceded byBrian Mason
Personal details
Born (1984-09-09) September 9, 1984
Barrhead, Alberta
Political partyAlberta NDP
ResidenceEdmonton, Alberta
Alma materUniversity of Alberta
University of Calgary
OccupationTeacher, civil servant
Websitejanisirwin.ca

Janis Irwin (born September 9, 1984)[1] is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 2019 Alberta general election.[2] She represents the electoral district of Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood as a member of the Alberta New Democratic Party.[3] She serves as the Official Opposition Critic for Status of Women and LGBTQ2S+ Issues, and is the Official Opposition Deputy Whip.[4]

A teacher prior to her election, Irwin is queer, and is the only openly LGBTQ MLA in the Alberta legislature.[2] She previously ran as the federal New Democratic Party candidate for Edmonton Griesbach in the 2015 Canadian federal election.

Personal life

Irwin grew up in Barrhead, Alberta.[5] Prior to being elected, Irwin was a high school social studies teacher in Bawlf, Alberta and served as vice-principal in Forestburg, Alberta.[6][7][8][9] Irwin came out in her late 20s.[10] In 2010, Irwin moved to Edmonton to start working with Alberta Education, focusing on curriculum.[11]

Education

Irwin holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta, a Master of Education from the University of Calgary, and completed PhD-level coursework at the University of Alberta without defending her thesis.

Provincial politics

Since being elected as a member of Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Irwin has been an advocate against conversion therapy by citing the harmful organization Journey Canada with its ties to this practice.[12] Another issue Irwin has been strongly advocating on is the legal protections of gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in the education system in Alberta.[13][14]

Irwin serves on the Standing Committee on Alberta's Economic Future, as well as the Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members' Public Bills.[15]

Irwin was previously a member of the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.[15]

Irwin is the Official Opposition Deputy Whip and Critic for LGBTQ2S+ and Women's Issues.[15]

In the Legislature, Irwin confessed humorously to having a "gay agenda", which she described as consisting of her drinking coffee, going to work, mowing her lawn, and cleaning her house just like heterosexual people do.[13] Irwin has joked that she is the only openly "ML-gay" in the legislature, which does not mean she needs to speak on all gay-related issues.[10]

Electoral history

2015 federal election

2015 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Griesbach
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeKerry Diotte19,15739.96–12.55$93,048.30
New DemocraticJanis Irwin16,30934.02–3.45$150,799.22
LiberalBrian Gold10,39721.69+15.11$14,575.14
GreenHeather Workman1,1292.35–1.08$1,404.61
LibertarianMaryna Goncharenko4150.87–$150.44
MarijuanaLinda Northcott2790.58––
RhinocerosBun Bun Thompson1440.30––
Marxist–LeninistMary Joyce1120.23––
Total valid votes/expense limit 47,94299.40 $214,842.90
Total rejected ballots 2890.60–
Turnout 48,23159.35–
Eligible voters 81,265
Conservative hold Swing –4.55
Source: Elections Canada[16][17]

2019 general election[18]

2019 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticJanis Irwin9,99863.45%-14.66%
United ConservativeLeila Houle4,01525.48%6.92%
Alberta PartyTish Prouse1,0576.71%–
GreenTaz Bouchier2431.54%–
Alberta IndependenceJoe Hankins2261.43%–
Alberta AdvantageChris Poplatek1160.74%–
CommunistAlex S. Boykowich1030.65%–
Total 15,758––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 70888
Eligible electors / turnout 30,59651.76%8.12%
New Democratic hold Swing -14.06%
Source(s)
Source: "34 - Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, 2019 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Alberta. Chief Electoral Officer (2019). 2019 General Election. A Report of the Chief Electoral Officer. Volume II (PDF) (Report). Vol. 2. Edmonton, Alta.: Elections Alberta. pp. 132–135. ISBN 978-1-988620-12-1. Retrieved April 7, 2021.

2023 general election

2023 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticJanis Irwin9,49171.46+8.01
United ConservativeNick Kalynchuk3,35025.22-0.26
GreenKristine Kowalchuk3392.55+1.01
CommunistNaomi Rankin1020.77+0.11
Total 13,28299.01–
Rejected and declined 1330.99
Turnout 13,41545.22
Eligible voters 29,665
New Democratic hold Swing +4.13
Source(s)
Source: Elections Alberta[19]

References

  1. ↑ @JanisIrwin (9 September 2020). "It's my birthday! And what do I want? At the top of my list is an @albertaNDP government! I'd love if you could help make my birthday wish come true: albertandp.ca/donate/ehln #ableg" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. 1 2 Jason Markusoff (April 18, 2019). "Why Jason Kenney's workaholic style may not work when he's premier". Maclean's. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  3. ↑ Alex Antoneshyn (April 24, 2019). "Edmonton MLA-elect wins seat, then $100K in lottery". CTV News Edmonton. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Janis Irwin". www.albertandpcaucus.ca. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  5. ↑ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 18, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 27, 2019. p. 1294.
  7. ↑ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 19, 2019. p. 1056.
  8. ↑ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 18, 2019. p. 941.
  9. ↑ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 11, 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 24, 2019. p. 1156.
  11. ↑ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 11, 2019. p. 710.
  12. ↑ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 25, 2019. p. 1171.
  13. 1 2 "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 24, 2019. p. 1157.
  14. ↑ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 11, 2019. p. 710.
  15. 1 2 3 "Janis Irwin Bio". Legislative Assembly of Alberta. October 8, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. 29 February 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  17. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
  18. ↑ "Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood 2019 election result".
  19. ↑ "34 - Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
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