37th Parliament Members
at dissolution on April 19, 2005

MLA: Richard Stewart  Coquitlam-Maillardville Elected: 2001 BRITISH COLUMBIA LIBERAL PARTY

Richard Stewart was elected as MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville in the 2001 provincial general election. He is currently the chair of the Select Standing Committee for Education, and serves on the Government Caucus Committee for Education. Richard is also a member of the Government Multicultural Caucus Committee, and works with BC's French-speaking community as the MLA Responsible for Francophone Affairs.

Before becoming an MLA, Richard was a private sector communications consultant specializing in government relations and consumer housing issues. Richard studied economics and business administration at Simon Fraser University . From 1985 to 1994 he published and edited a trad magazine, was a building technical consultant, and a consultant in government relations, corporate communications and public relations. From 1994 to 1997, Richard was the Director of Corporate Communications for BC's largest builder of single-family homes. Prior to being elected as MLA, Richard ran his own communications and government relations company.

Richard's extensive community involvement includes: Coquitlam Public Library Board trustee (1998-2000); Kariba Project Society director (1997-2001) involved in community development projects in Zimbabwe ; Coquitlam Rotary Club member (1999-present); Knights of Columbus member (1976-present); and, member of Societé Maillardville Uni. A longstanding member of the Coquitlam Chamber of Commerce, Richard has also served on the Economic Development Committees in Coquitlam and Port Moody. Richard has served as a member of the Minister's Advisory Council on Affordable Housing,  and of the National Research Council Canada's Standing Committee on Housing. He has also served as chair of the National Housing Economic Research Council, and is a former President of the Canadian Home Builders' Association of BC.

Born in 1959, Richard has lived all his life in Coquitlam; he and his wife Anna Rosa have four children. Richard enjoys writing and swimming and is fluent in French.