Senator Yonah Martin (Conservative Party of Canada)

11/26/2010 @ JJ Bean Coffee House, Vancouver, Canada

Senator Martin has long been my true inspiration and a role model.

It was definitely one of the biggest moments of my life that I will cherish dearly.

Some of my noted learning are the following:

“True leaders need to take the initiatives to raise and support other young leaders to follow their paths”
“Finishing strong to its completeness, reflects one’s leadership strengths and gracefulness”

“Skills involved as an educator plays a large role in helping others”

한인 최초, 캐나다 연방 연아 마틴 상임의원님과 만남.

소위 한인 1세대 이민층의 자녀로, 그리고 캐나다 시민,

나아가 대한민국 이민사회를 대표하는

캐나다 정치인물로 의원님의 행적은 파워풀 하지만

자연스럽게 묻어나오는 뭔가 소박한 모습 그리고

한국의 예를 갖추신 분 이었다.

바쁜신 일정중에도, 같은 동포이자 그리고 자신의 멘티라고 하는 학생을 위해

시간을 내어주신게 너무 감사했고, 또 캐나다와 한국의 미래를 걱정하는

그리고 밝은 미래를 바라는 진정성이 묻어나는 말씀을 선사해주셨다.

“잔소리 같지만 ..,” 괜히 미안해 하시면서 그 단어를 꼬집어, 한국어로 말씀하시는게

옆에 있는 보좌관님은 이해 못할지 모른, 한국의 따스한 정서 같이 느껴졌다.

중간중간에 딸의 전화를 받으면서 한숨을 내쉬는 모습은

영락없는 한국엄마셨지만, 일에 관련되서 말씀을 하시는 한 시간동안에는

맡으신일에 최선을 다하시는 프로페셔널 모습 그 자체였다.

다음번 만남을 기대하면서,

많은 배움을 얻고 커피샾을 나왔다.

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Her Bio & Websites:

http://yonahmartin.sencanada.ca/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonah_Martin

Yonah Martin (born April 11, 1965) is a Conservative Senator from British Columbia.
She was appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and is the first Canadian of Korean descent to serve in the Senate of Canada.

A professional educator for over twenty-one years, Yonah Martin graduated from the
University of British Columbia in 1987 and taught English and Drama at W.J. Mouat Secondary School in Abbotsford, BC
from 1987-2001. She earned a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1996.
After leaving Abbotsford in 2001, she went on to teach at Burnaby South Secondary School (2001);
Moody (2001-2004), Scott Creek (2004-2005) and Banting Middle Schools (2005-2008) until her Senate appointment, effective January 2, 2009.

Born in Seoul, Korea, Yonah Martin immigrated to Canada with her family in 1972, settling in Vancouver.
With deep roots in both Korean and Canadian heritage, she became a community activist with a desire
to bridge cultural gaps that create silos; and in her pursuit to “bridge communities”,
she co-founded a non-profit organization, the Corean Canadian Coactive (C3) Society in 2003.
Yonah Martin currently serves on several boards and committees.
She has served on the Multicultural Advisory Council of BC since 2006; and is a honourary board member
of the SAGE Foundation whose mission is to build a better community through the recognition of excellence
in Community Service, Leadership or Multiculturalism. She is a proud alumnae and honorary patron of the
St. Patrick Regional Secondary School Concert and Chamber Choirs; and continues to lead the
children’s worship service at the Korean United Church on Sundays, something she has done for decades
.

In addition to being a community activist and strong advocate of arts and culture,
Yonah Martin is equally passionate about mentoring youth and young adults.
She is a mentor of the Executive Mentorship Program of UBC’s Sauder School of Business and Equal Voice;
and has mentored young leaders to pursue their goals and launch their own initiatives.

In recognition of her community service in the Tri-Cities area, Yonah Martin was awarded the
2004 Spirit of Community Award for Cultural Harmony. Additionally, she was awarded the
Order of Civil Merit Moran Medal on October 9th, 2009 by the Republic of Korea for her leadership and
outstanding work in national development towards the enhancement of the rights of overseas Koreans.

She has been married to Doug Martin since 1990 and they are proud parents of their daughter, Kiana Mi-Sun.