Kerry Jang
Encyclopedia
Kerry Jang is a Canadian
politician, currently serving on Vancouver
, British Columbia
's City Council
. He currently serves as a Director
of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Board
. He was first elected in the 2008 municipal election
. Before entering politics, Jang was a professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia
.
for 20 years, and his mother, May, had an administrative career with the Provincial Court of British Columbia
, taught Chinese cooking, and sold cookware. Jang's paternal grandfather had three wives, of which Jang's paternal grandmother was third, and twenty-one children. Jang's grandfather made a fortune as a merchant
after immigrating from China
, but lost it all in the Great Depression
. Jang's maternal grandfather was a pig farmer in China and became a tailor
after immigrating to Canada.
prior to Windermere Secondary School
, where he was not a very good student. He worked on improving his academic record at Vancouver Community College
and then transferred to Simon Fraser University
to complete his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology
. He completed his education with a Ph.D.
in Personality Psychology
at the University of Western Ontario
, where he initially studied under the highly controversial J. Philippe Rushton
, known for work on race, intelligence and penis length. Jang witnessed the censure of Rushton, and attributes the experience to understanding the role of protests in shutting down non-popular views.
nomination for the Vancouver Kingsway
Riding, after being called by Jack Layton
, the leader of the NDP. The incumbent was David Emerson
, who had crossed the aisle to the Conservative Party
after the earlier election in 2006. Jang subsequently backed out of the race.
, which conceived the controversial Homeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT) shelters
.
area of Vancouver. They have two children, Nicholas and Rachel.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, currently serving on Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
's City Council
Vancouver City Council
Vancouver City Council is the governing body of the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.The city is governed by the Vancouver Charter, not the Community Charter and the Local Government Act which are used for other municipal governments...
. He currently serves as a Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Board
Greater Vancouver Regional District
Metro Vancouver is the brand name of the board of the inter-municipal administrative body known as the Greater Vancouver Regional District , a regional district in British Columbia, Canada...
. He was first elected in the 2008 municipal election
Vancouver municipal election, 2008
The 2008 Vancouver municipal election was held on November 15, 2008, filling seats on the Vancouver School Board, the Parks Board, the Vancouver City Council, and the position of Mayor of Vancouver. It was held at the same time as municipal elections throughout the province...
. Before entering politics, Jang was a professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
.
Background
Born and raised in Vancouver, Jang was the eldest of three siblings. His father, Leslie, was a Vancouver School Board plumberPlumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
for 20 years, and his mother, May, had an administrative career with the Provincial Court of British Columbia
Provincial Court of British Columbia
The Provincial Court of British Columbia is a trial level court in British Columbia that hears cases in criminal, civil and family matters....
, taught Chinese cooking, and sold cookware. Jang's paternal grandfather had three wives, of which Jang's paternal grandmother was third, and twenty-one children. Jang's grandfather made a fortune as a merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
after immigrating from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, but lost it all in the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Jang's maternal grandfather was a pig farmer in China and became a tailor
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
after immigrating to Canada.
Education
He attended Renfrew Elementary SchoolRenfrew Elementary School
Renfrew Elementary School in Vancouver, British Columbia, is an elementary school. The school opened in 1928.It is located at 3315 East 22nd Avenue, at the intersection with Rupert Street. As of 2008, the current school principal is Ms.Andy Powell-Williams, and the vice-principal is Peter Woo. Its...
prior to Windermere Secondary School
Windermere Secondary School
Windermere Secondary School is a high school in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.The school offers a special program called the Leadership Program, where students get to develop leadership skills, get involved around the community, and set goals for the future.A second mini-school, the Athena...
, where he was not a very good student. He worked on improving his academic record at Vancouver Community College
Vancouver Community College
Vancouver Community College is a public post-secondary institution in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1965, it is the largest and oldest community college in British Columbia, with over 140 certificate and diploma programs...
and then transferred to Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
to complete his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. He completed his education with a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Personality Psychology
Personality psychology
Personality psychology is a branch of psychology that studies personality and individual differences. Its areas of focus include:* Constructing a coherent picture of the individual and his or her major psychological processes...
at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, where he initially studied under the highly controversial J. Philippe Rushton
J. Philippe Rushton
Jean Philippe Rushton is a Canadian psychology professor at the University of Western Ontario who is most widely known for his work on racial group differences, such as research on race and intelligence, race and crime, and the application of r/K selection theory to humans in his book Race,...
, known for work on race, intelligence and penis length. Jang witnessed the censure of Rushton, and attributes the experience to understanding the role of protests in shutting down non-popular views.
2006 Federal Election
In September 2006, Jang announced that he planned to seek the federal NDPNew Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
nomination for the Vancouver Kingsway
Vancouver Kingsway
Vancouver Kingsway is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1953 to 1988 and since 1997. It is located in Vancouver.-Demographics:...
Riding, after being called by Jack Layton
Jack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
, the leader of the NDP. The incumbent was David Emerson
David Emerson
David Lee Emerson, PC, OBC is a Canadian politician, businessman and civil servant.Emerson is a former Member of Parliament for the riding of Vancouver Kingsway. He was first elected as a Liberal and served as Minister of Industry under Prime Minister Paul Martin...
, who had crossed the aisle to the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
after the earlier election in 2006. Jang subsequently backed out of the race.
Homeless Emergency Action Team
Jang was one of three elected officials who served on Homeless Emergency Action TeamHomeless Emergency Action Team
The Homeless Emergency Action Team was announced on December 9, 2008 by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson to assist Vancouver’s homeless citizens during an extremely cold winter...
, which conceived the controversial Homeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT) shelters
Homeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT) shelters
The low-barrier Homeless Emergency Action Team shelters were announced on December 9, 2008 by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson to assist Vancouver’s homeless citizens during an extremely cold winter. The province of British Columbia, City of Vancouver and Streetohome Foundation each provided...
.
Family
Jang and his wife Vicki live at the corner of 16th and Nootka in the Renfrew-CollingwoodRenfrew-Collingwood
Renfrew–Collingwood is a large neighbourhood that lies on the eastern side of Vancouver, on its boundary with Burnaby and encompassing an area that was one of the earlier developed regions of the city. It is a diverse area that includes a substantial business community in several areas, as well as...
area of Vancouver. They have two children, Nicholas and Rachel.
External links
- Kerry Jang at Vancouver City Council