Dorothy Gretchen Steeves (née Biersteker; May 26, 1891 – May 9, 1978) was a Dutch-born political figure in British Columbia. She represented North Vancouver in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1934 to 1945 as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation member.
Dorothy Steeves | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia | |
| In office 1934–1945 | |
| Preceded by | Harley Anderson |
| Succeeded by | John Henry Cates |
| Constituency | North Vancouver |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dorothy Gretchen Biersteker May 26, 1891 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | May 9, 1978 (aged 86) Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Political party | British Columbia CCF |
| Spouse | Rufus Palmer Steeves |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
She was born in Amsterdam and was educated there, receiving a Bachelor of Laws degree from Leiden University. During World War I, she was legal adviser to a Dutch government rationing bureau. She married Rufus Palmer Steeves, an officer in the Canadian Army, and came to Vancouver, British Columbia in January 1919.[1] Steeves was a founding member of the CCF.[2] She ran unsuccessfully as a CCF candidate in the provincial riding of Vancouver-Point Grey in the 1933 general election. Steeves was first elected to the provincial assembly in a 1934 by-election held following the death of Harley Christian Erskine Anderson. She was re-elected twice and then defeated when she ran for re-election in 1945.[3] Steeves went on to serve in CCF executives at the provincial and federal levels.[1] She ran unsuccessfully as a CCF candidate in the federal riding of Burnaby—Richmond in 1949[4] and as an NDP candidate in the federal riding of Vancouver Quadra in 1963.[5] Provincially, she was also defeated in a 1946 byelection, the 1952 and 1953 provincial elections, and a 1956 provincial byelection. Her interests included civil liberties, international affairs, nuclear disarmament, protection of animals, women's issues and abolition of capital punishment.[2] She died on May 9, 1978.[6]
Steeves wrote The Compassionate Rebel : Ernest E. Winch and his times, published in 1960, and Builders and Rebels : A short History of the CCF from 1932 to 1961.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Dorothy Gretchen Steeves, 1891-1978" (PDF). University of British Columbia. April 1976. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
- ^ a b "Dorothy Gretchen Steeves fonds". British Columbia Archival Information Network. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
- ^ "Electoral History of British Columbia, 1871-1986" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ "Burnaby--Richmond, British Columbia (1947 - 1970)". History of Federal Ridings since 1867. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
- ^ "Vancouver Quadra, British Columbia (1947 - )". History of Federal Ridings since 1867. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
- ^ Death