Anna Kindy (born August 14, 1962) is a Canadian freestyle skier, physician, addiction specialist, and politician who sits as a Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia representing North Island. She has also competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics, in women's moguls.
Early life and career
Kindy was born in Montreal, Quebec. She graduated from the University of Alberta's medical school in 1986. Early in her career, Kindy worked in remote Quebec contributing to underserved communities. In a unique twist, between 1989-1992, Kindy balanced being a family doctor in Port Hardy while also representing Canada by competing at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, in mogul skiing.
In 1998, Kindy and her husband, Dr. Peter Olesen, a surgeon, moved to Campbell River to work and to raise their three children there. Since then she has gone on international missions in Guatemala and has specialized in addiction medicine. Tenets of her practice include informed consent, doing no harm, and upholding bodily autonomy. Her career in medicine has spanned over 35 years.
At the time of her election to the legislature, she was a general practitioner with a focus on addiction medicine and had hospital privileges at Campbell River Hospital.
Political career
She was nominated as the Conservative Party of BC's candidate on November 9, 2023 for the provincial riding of North Island. She went on to win a seat in the Legislative Assembly of BC on October 19, 2024, defeating NDP incumbent Michele Babchuk by 681. This marked the departure of the North Island riding as a NDP stronghold riding since 2005.
Kindy currently serves in the official opposition's shadow cabinet as the Critic for Health. Her main political priority is to ensure that emergency rooms are open 24/7.
Political views
Despite being vaccinated herself against COVID-19, Kindy has protested against British Columbia's public health measures to combat the pandemic and has questioned the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
Kindy can be heard in a board meeting saying "what bodies?" in relation to bodies found on residential schools.
Electoral record
References
External links
- Official website
- Legislative Assembly of British Columbia website
- Anna Kindy at Olympedia
