Jennifer Bowes is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan in the 2020 Saskatchewan general election.[1] She represents the electoral district of Saskatoon University as a member of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party caucus.
Jennifer Bowes | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Whip of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office November 4, 2020 | |
| Leader | Ryan Meili and Carla Beck |
| Critic, Advanced Education; Innovation; and the Status of Women | |
| Assumed office November 4, 2020 | |
| Leader | Ryan Meili and Carla Beck |
| Associate Critic, Labour | |
| Assumed office November 4, 2020 | |
| Leader | Ryan Meili and Carla Beck |
| Member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly for Saskatoon University | |
| Assumed office October 26, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Eric Olauson |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | New Democratic Party |
| Residence(s) | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| Education | Queen's University |
| Occupation | Labour organizer |
Political career
Bowes first ran for provincial office in the 2016 election in the newly created riding of Saskatoon University. There she finished second to Saskatchewan Party candidate and former Saskatoon City Councillor Eric Olauson by a margin of 348 votes.[2]
Bowes ran again in the 2020 election, challenging Olauson a second time. This time she won the seat, with a margin of 495 votes.[3][4]
In November 2020, Bowes was named NDP critic for Advanced Education, Innovation, and the Status of Women.[5] Bowes was also named the associate critic for Labour and the Opposition Deputy Whip.[6]
In June 2023, Bowes announced that while she would be completing her term, she would not be seeking re-election in the 2024 provincial election.[7]
Personal life
Bowes was born in Saskatoon and raised in Waldheim, Saskatchewan. She earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.[6]
After graduating, Bowes worked with the Saskatchewan Ministries of Corrections and Social Services, and was elected vice president of the Elizabeth Fry Society. She also spent time working in Myanmar with CUSO International, before returning to Saskatoon and working as a labour organizer for healthcare workers with SEIU West.[6]
Electoral results
| 2020 Saskatchewan general election: Saskatoon University | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Jennifer Bowes | 3,225 | 52.97 | +10.37 | ||||
| Saskatchewan | Eric Olauson | 2,730 | 44.84 | -3.19 | ||||
| Green | Erickka Patmore | 133 | 2.19 | +0.18 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 6,088 | 99.07 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 57 | 0.93 | +0.54 | |||||
| Turnout | 6,145 | 54.52 | -4.13 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 11,272 | |||||||
| New Democratic gain from Saskatchewan | Swing | – | ||||||
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan | ||||||||
| 2016 Saskatchewan general election: Saskatoon University | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
| Saskatchewan | Eric Olauson | 3,080 | 48.03 | |||||
| New Democratic | Jennifer Bowes | 2,732 | 42.60 | |||||
| Liberal | Ezaz Jaseem | 370 | 5.77 | |||||
| Green | Garnet Hall | 129 | 2.01 | |||||
| Progressive Conservative | Rose Buscholl | 101 | 1.57 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 6,412 | 99.61 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 25 | 0.39 | ||||||
| Turnout | 6,437 | 58.65 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 10,976 | |||||||
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan[8][9] | ||||||||