Dorothy Kostrzewa

Dorothy Nan Kostrzewa (née Chung; August 17, 1928 – January 11, 2013) was a Canadian politician. She is the first Chinese-Canadian woman to hold political office in Canada when she was elected to Chilliwack City Council in 1970. 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. Her parents died, leaving the children watched over by family and friends. She studied accounting at the Duffus School of Commerce in Vancouver, and worked as an accountant at Chilliwack General Hospital from 1949 until 1969. She also taught tennis and played badminton.

Political career She was first elected to Chilliwack City Council in 1970 making her the first Chinese-Canadian to hold political office in Canada and the first woman elected to Chilliwack township council. Her successful run for office in 1970 was considered an "exceedingly strong showing" by The Chilliwack Progress. and millennium woman of the year. 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 2017, she was featured in a traveling exhibition, Gold Mountain Dream! Bravely Venture into the Fraser Valley, created by the Royal BC Museum.