Stephanie Cadieux, representing Surrey South, is the first disabled woman to serve in the legislature and cabinet, holding a number of portfolios, including child and family development, social development and employment. Cadieux said that leaving the BC legislature and its role in serving the people of its equestrian and rural areas is difficult, but the opportunity is right. “This job here in the legislature, you do not really know what you are doing when you first sign up for the job and at first it is scary and new and overwhelming, but it really becomes part of what you are doing, who you are, that it is difficult to “Leave,” she told the Canadian press on Monday. Cadieux said she was honored to be elected and recalled that often when she sat in the legislature she thought, “Wow, people trusted me to come here.” A statement from Employment and Social Development Canada described Cadieux as a longtime supporter of people with disabilities. “Stephanie Cadieux is a leader of change, an advocate of diversity, accessibility, the inclusion of people with disabilities and an entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in planning and leadership roles,” the federal history document states. The document states that Cadieux has experience that allows her to have a deep understanding of accessibility issues faced by people with disabilities, adding that she has served as director and coordinator at the BC Paraplegic Association. Cadieux, 49, has been using a wheelchair since she was injured in a spine in a car accident when she was 18 years old. “I think this is the right time and the right thing for me,” he said. “I have worked most of my life in one role or another defending people with disabilities and this new role really seems to be the right step.” Cadieux said one of her main passions and goals for her new posting is to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. “I really hope to be a good conduit between the disability sector and the government and agencies to really move the selector as it relates to the inclusion of people with disabilities,” he said.
