{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = | name = Olga Ilich | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|55|2007|12|14}}<ref name="CBC071214">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/second-female-b-c-cabinet-minister-won-t-seek-new-term-1.639584|title=Second female B.C. cabinet minister won't seek new term|date=2007-12-14|publisher=CBC News|agency=The Canadian Press|accessdate=2024-01-31}}</ref> | birth_place = The Netherlands | assembly = British Columbia Legislative | constituency_AM = Richmond Centre | term_start = May 17, 2005 | term_end = May 12, 2009 | predecessor = Greg Halsey-Brandt | successor = Rob Howard | office1 = Minister of Tourism, Sports and the Arts of British Columbia | premier1 = Gordon Campbell | term_start1 = June 16, 2005 | term_end1 = August 15, 2006 | predecessor1 = ''Position established'' | successor1 = Stan Hagen | office2 = Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services of British Columbia | premier2 = Gordon Campbell | term_start2 = August 15, 2006 | term_end2 = June 23, 2008 | predecessor2 = Michael de Jong | successor2 = Iain Black | party = BC Liberal <small>(Provincial)</small><br>Conservative <small>(Federal)</small><ref>{{cite tweet|user=MichaelChongMP|author=Michael Chong 🇨🇦|number=849614865459286016|date=5 April 2017|title=Statement from former BC Cabinet Minister Olga Ilich. Read more: #cpcldr}}</ref> | alma_mater = University of British Columbia (BA)<br>University of Manitoba (MA)<br>Memorial University of Newfoundland (MBA) | occupation = real estate developer }}
'''Olga Ilich''' (born 1951 or 1952) is a former Canadian politician. She represented the riding of Richmond Centre in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2005 to 2009 as a member of the British Columbia Liberal Party,<ref name="CBCVotes13">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news2/canada/bcvotes2013/ridings/053/ |title=Richmond Centre: British Columbia Votes 2013 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=2024-01-31}}</ref> and served in the Executive Council of British Columbia from 2005 to 2008.
==Biography== Born in the Netherlands, she moved to Richmond, British Columbia in 1959, graduating from Steveston Secondary School.<ref name="BCLeg38">{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/pages/bclass-legacy.aspx#/content/legacy/web/mla/38thparl/ilich.htm |title=38th Parliament Members at dissolution on April 14, 2009: MLA: Olga Ilich |publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |access-date=2024-01-31 |archive-date=August 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820154630/https://www.leg.bc.ca/pages/bclass-legacy.aspx#/content/legacy/web/mla/38thparl/ilich.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> After receiving a bachelor of arts degree from the University of British Columbia, she attended the University of Manitoba and graduated with a master of arts degree, and attained an MBA from the Memorial University of Newfoundland.<ref name="BCLeg38"/>
She was hired at Richmond-based Progressive Construction by Milan Ilich in 1980, eventually becoming the company's executive vice-president.<ref name="RN110706">{{cite news |url=https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/remembering-milan-ilich-2945978 |title=Remembering Milan Ilich |publisher=Richmond News |first=Michelle |last=Hopkins |date=2011-07-06 |access-date=2024-01-31}}</ref><ref name="MC100319">{{cite web |url=https://montecristomagazine.com/magazine/spring-2010/olga-ilich |title=Olga Ilich |publisher=Montecristo Magazine |first=Arlene |last=Kroeker |date=2010-03-19 |access-date=2024-01-31}}</ref> At one point she was married to Milan's brother Bob, with whom she has two sons.<ref name="MC100319"/> She went on to found her own real estate company Suncor Development.<ref name="BCLeg38"/><ref name="MC100319"/>
She ran for the BC Liberals in the 2005 provincial election, and was elected member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Richmond Centre.<ref name="CBCVotes13"/> She was named to Premier Gordon Campbell's cabinet as Minister of Tourism, Sports and the Arts that June, before being re-assigned as Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services in August 2006.<ref name="CampbellCabinet">{{cite web|title=Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011 |url=https://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/reference/campbell_cabinet.pdf|publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|accessdate=2024-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/campbell-shakes-up-cabinet-1.605343|title=Campbell shakes up cabinet|date=2006-08-15|publisher=CBC News|accessdate=2024-01-29}}</ref> During her time on the labour file, the provincial government implemented regulations to protect gas station workers by mandating pre-payment at urban gas stations at night.<ref name="CBC071214"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-to-implement-grant-s-law-to-protect-gas-station-workers-1.616126|title=B.C. to implement 'Grant's Law' to protect gas station workers|date=2006-10-04|publisher=CBC News|accessdate=2024-01-29}}</ref> In December 2007 she announced her decision to not seek a second term as MLA at the next provincial election;<ref name="CBC071214"/> she was dropped from the cabinet in June 2008.<ref name="CampbellCabinet"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/b-c-premier-shuffles-provincial-cabinet-1.304067?cache=a+href%3FautoPlay%3Dtrue%3FcontactForm%3Dtrue|title=B.C. Premier shuffles provincial cabinet|date=2008-06-23|publisher=CTV News|access-date=2024-01-31}}</ref>
After finishing her term in May 2009, she was named by mayor of Vancouver Gregor Robertson in December 2011 to co-chair a task force on housing affordability.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/news/former-bc-cabinet-minister-olga-ilich-appointed-vancouver-housing-task-force|title=Former B.C. cabinet minister Olga Ilich appointed to Vancouver housing task force|date=2011-12-12|publisher=Georgia Straight|first=Yolande |last=Cole |accessdate=2024-01-31}}</ref> She became a member of Destination Canada's board of directors in 2014, and served as chair of the board from 2015 to 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Olga Ilich appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors of Destination Canada |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2015/06/olga-ilich-appointed-as-chair-board-directors-destination-canada.html|publisher=Industry Canada|date=2015-06-26|accessdate=2024-01-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Destination Canada welcomes new chairperson |url=https://www.destinationcanada.com/en/news/destination-canada-welcomes-new-chairperson|publisher=Destination Canada|date=2017-02-27|accessdate=2024-01-31}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/38thparl/ilich.htm Legislative Assembly of British Columbia- Olga Ilich] {{Gordon Campbell Ministry}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ilich, Olga}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:BC United MLAs Category:Canadian businesspeople in the real estate industry Category:Dutch emigrants to Canada Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia Category:People from Richmond, British Columbia Category:University of British Columbia alumni Category:University of Manitoba alumni Category:Memorial University of Newfoundland alumni Category:Women government ministers of Canada Category:Women MLAs in British Columbia Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Category:21st-century Canadian women politicians