Minister Pon was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta on April 16, 2019, as the MLA for Calgary-Beddington.
Pon has a wealth of work experience in banking. For more than 20 years she was the Account Manager in Personal/Commercial banking and also the Regional Manager, Business Development responsible for Multicultural Banking and working with over 230 branches and 3,000 staff in the Prairie Region for Scotiabank. She also worked at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), a crown corporation in mortgage insurance, as an International Trade Consultant and in the Assisted Housing department in the Prairie Region.
Most recently, Pon acted as the Vice President of the Taste of Asia Group, managing five restaurants and leading over 150 employees. These experiences have also given her insights into the current economic situation and the challenges faced by everyone in this city including business owners and restaurant staff.
Pon has been active in volunteering in a number of non-profit organizations including her time as a member of the working group in the Edmonton Mayor’s task force to eliminate poverty, the Board Chair of Immigrant Services Calgary and Gala Chair for Immigrants of Distinction Awards gala.
Josephine Pon was appointed as Alberta’s Minister of Seniors and Housing on April 30, 2019. She will work to ensure that Albertans have access to quality and affordable housing, and that our seniors have the resources and care they need.
The governments of Alberta and Canada are providing $8 million to help Hope Mission rebuild the Herb Jamieson Centre, which provides shelter for homeless men in Edmonton.
The governments of Alberta and Canada are developing new affordable seniors housing for Albertans in Oyen, Spirit River and Manning.
The governments of Alberta and Canada are providing more affordable housing options for seniors in Vermilion with the opening of the Vermilion Valley Lodge.
Forty new continuing care living spaces will help Camrose seniors remain close to family and friends and in their community.
Construction on a new seniors lodge in Red Deer is helping ensure seniors have access to affordable housing – even as their needs change – and creating 204 jobs.
The governments of Alberta and Canada will provide new housing units and on-site social supports for people who are at risk of homelessness in Lethbridge.
Housing providers will soon spend less time bogged down in administration and more time addressing tenant concerns, maintaining units and processing applications.
Government is working to address the high demand for affordable housing in Hinton with the opening of new units in the Happy Creek Estates development.
Minister of Seniors and Housing Josephine Pon issued the following statement on the social isolation of seniors during the holiday season.
