Total Search Results: 1
Beyond Politics
Joy Smith
Conservative MP Joy Smith is a mother of six, a teacher, a musician and since 2004 the MP for Kildonan–St. Paul, in Manitoba. Her father, a veteran of World War Two and of Icelandic stock, encouraged her to develop her musical talent. Joy has a degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music and her mother, of Irish stock, instilled in her a passion for learning. Joy has a BA and an MA in education. For 23 years, Smith taught math and science in Winnipeg schools before being recruited to run for Gary Filmon's Progressive Conservatives. In 1999, Smith won the riding of Fort Garry by only 30 votes, but four years later in 2003, the margin of victory was also close, fewer than a hundred votes, but victory went to the NDP. Less than a year later, Smith was running for the federal Conservatives and was involved in another close race, eking out a win in the newly created riding of Kildonan–St. Paul, but in the past two elections she has managed to increase her plurality considerably. Joy Smith talks to Catherine Clark about her life Beyond Politics.