Episode 8 - Yonah Martin - Contributing To Culture Through Politics

In this episode, City In Focus’s Tom Cooper is interviewing the Honorable Yonah Martin.

Yonah Martin is a Conservative Senator from British Columbia, appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2009. She is the first Canadian of Korean descent to serve in the Senate of Canada and the first Korean-Canadian parliamentarian in Canadian history.

Senator Martin is currently the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. She has been Co-Chair of the Canada Korea Inter-Parliamentary Group since 2009; and serves on the Executive of various inter-parliamentary groups. 

Tom and Yonah discuss her coming to Canada, adjusting to a new country, her 21-year career as a teacher, and her entry into federal politics. A journey of hope and resilience!

Guest Bio:

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Yonah Martin immigrated to Canada in 1972, and resided in Metro-Vancouver. She had a 21-year teaching career until her appointment to the Senate. She later co-founded C3 Korean Canadian Society, a non-profit organization that aims to "bridge communities". Currently, she serves as Honorary Patron of C3.

She has been married to Doug Martin for over 25 years, and they are proud parents of a daughter, Kiana Mi-Sun.