Joanne Sharon Crofford (born October 29, 1947) is a former MLA for

Regina Rosemont Regina Rosemont is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is represented by Trent Wotherspoon of the New Democratic Party The New Democratic Party (NDP; french: Nouveau Parti démocratique, ...

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a province in western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dak ...

, and a member of the

Saskatchewan New Democratic Party The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (NDP) is a social-democratic political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It currently forms the official opposition, but has been a dominant force in Saskatchewan politics since the 1940s. The p ...

. She was born Joanne Sharon Elkin in Regina, the daughter of Hubert Elkin and Elsie Lillian Kozen. Crofford has lived and worked throughout Saskatchewan, including the North. She graduated from the

University of Regina The University of Regina is a public university, public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the Unive ...

, majoring in Social Studies and Communications. Crofford's 12 years of work in

La Ronge La Ronge is a northern town in the boreal forest of central Saskatchewan, Canada. Its location is approximately north of Prince Albert where Highway 2 becomes Highway 102. La Ronge lies on the western shore of Lac la Ronge, is adjacent ...

included Assistant Director of Personnel with the Department of Northern Saskatchewan, representative to the provincial Environment Impact Assessment Secretariat and Business Manager of the Kikinahk Indian and Métis Friendship Centre. On her return to Regina, Crofford was Program Co-ordinator at the Rainbow Youth Centre and Research Co-ordinator at the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Regina. Crofford was first elected in October 1991 as the MLA for Regina Lake Centre, and subsequently re-elected for Regina Centre and Regina Rosemont (due to boundary changes). Since her appointment to Cabinet in February 1995, Crofford has served in a wide variety of portfolios, including Minister Responsible for the Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Minister Responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, Minister Responsible for the Indian and Métis Affairs Secretariat, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for the Saskatchewan Communications Network, Minister of Labour, Minister of Culture, Youth and Recreation, Minister Responsible for the Public Service Commission, as well as for the Wascana Centre Authority and the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation. In 2001, Crofford was a candidate for the leadership of the provincial NDP. She was re-elected as the MLA for

on November 5, 2003. On November 21, 2003, Crofford was appointed Minister of Community Resources and Employment, Minister Responsible for Disability Issues and as well as Minister Responsible for Gaming. In January 2006, Crofford announced that she would not run for re-election. She has served in cultural, artistic, human rights, youth labour, business and community service organizations. She was chair of the Regina Opening Ceremonies event for the 1995 Grey Cup, founder of the Cathedral Village Drum Circle and continues to serve on the Cathedral Village Arts Festival and other community committees. The Saskatchewan Centre of International Languages has awarded her an Honorary Certificate in Languages for her support of international language instruction. Crofford's long involvement in the Saskatchewan community has led to her firm commitment to a close working relationship between government and all sectors of our society. Crofford and her husband Vic reside in Regina Centre.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crofford, Joanne Saskatchewan New Democratic Party MLAs Members of the Executive Council of Saskatchewan Women MLAs in Saskatchewan 1947 births Living people Politicians from Regina, Saskatchewan 21st-century Canadian politicians 21st-century Canadian women politicians Women government ministers of Canada