Janis Irwin


Janis Irwin is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 2019 Alberta general election. She represents the electoral district of Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood as a member of the Alberta New Democratic Party.
A teacher prior to her election, Irwin is openly lesbian, and is the only LGBTQ MLA in the Alberta legislature. She previously ran as the federal New Democratic Party candidate for Edmonton Griesbach in the 2015 Canadian federal election.
Shortly after her election, Irwin won $100,000 in a lottery after finding a ticket bought in March in her wallet.

Personal life

Irwin grew up in Barrhead, Alberta. Prior to being elected, Irwin was a high school social studies teacher in Bawlf, Alberta and served as vice-principal in Forestburg, Alberta. Irwin came out in her late 20s. In 2010, Irwin moved back to Edmonton to start working with Alberta Education, focusing on curriculum.

Provincial politics

Since being elected as a member of Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Irwin has been an advocate against conversion therapy by citing the harmful organization Journey Canada with its ties to this practice. Another issue Irwin has been strongly advocating on is the legal protections of gay-straight alliances in the education system in Alberta.
Irwin serves on the Standing Committee on Alberta's Economic Future and the Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members' Public Bills.
Irwin previously was a member of the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.
Irwin is the Official Opposition Deputy Whip and Critic of LGBTQ2S+ and Women's Issues.
In the Legislature, Irwin confessed humorously to having a "gay agenda", which she described as consisting of her drinking coffee, going to work, mowing her lawn, and cleaning her house just like heterosexual people do. Irwin has joked that she is the only "ML-gay" in the legislature, which does not mean she needs to speak on all gay-related issues.

Electoral history

2015 federal election

2019 general election