Human Rights A Day

Douglas Jung becomes Canada’s first Chinese Canadian member of Parliament. Douglas Jung was born in Victoria, British Columbia on February 24, 1924. Following World War II service in the Pacific Command Security Intelligence, Jung returned to Canada to pursue his education at the University of British Columbia. The first Chinese Canadian veteran to receive a university education through Veteran’s Affairs, he graduated with both arts and law degrees before being called to the bar in 1954. As a young lawyer, Jung was the first Chinese Canadian to appear before the B.C. Court of Appeal. Soon, his interests turned to politics and the Progressive Conservative Party. He was elected national president of the Young Conservatives of Canada before moving on to elected office. On June 10, 1957, Jung broke barriers again when, as a member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, he became Canada’s first Chinese Canadian to sit in the House of Commons. He was re-elected the following year in the Diefenbaker sweep, but defeated