User:Buffalkill/sandbox/Dorothy Kostrzewa

Dorothy Kostrzewa
Born	Dorothy Chung (1928-08-17)August 17, 1928 Chilliwack, British Columbia Canada
Died	January 11, 2013(2013-01-11) (aged 84) New Westminster British Columbia, Canada
Cause of death	Natural Causes
Occupation	Politician
Spouse	Richard Kostrzewa
Children	Karen Richard

Dorothy Kostrzewa (née Chung; August 17, 1928 – January 11, 2013) was a Canadian politician. She is notable as the first Chinese-Canadian woman to hold political office in Canada when she was elected to the Chilliwack City Council in 1971. She served on city council for 33 years making her the longest serving city councillor in British Columbia.

Early life

Dorothy Kostrzewa was born the youngest of eight children fathered by Chinese immigrant Dr. Chung Bing Kee in Chilliwack's Chinatown neighbourhood. She studied accounting at the Duffus School of Commerce in Vancouver, and worked as an accountant at Chilliwack General Hospital from 1949 until 1969.

Political career

She was first elected to Chilliwack City Council in 1969 making her the first Chinese-Canadian to hold political office in Canada.

Honours

She earned the Order of Chilliwack, was named Woman of the Year, and awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from UFV in 2009 for outstanding community service. She was named the woman of the year and millennium woman of the year. In 2006 she was named by the Vancouver Sun as one of the 100 Chinese-Canadians making a difference in B.C. She was named Sportsman of the Year. She was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Chilliwack Rotary Club, and one of Chilliwack’s Community Sports Heroes. In 2006 Kostrzewa was named one of the 100 Chinese Canadians making a difference in B.C.