| Olga Ilich | |
| Birth Date: | [1] |
| 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 (Provincial) Conservative (Federal)[2] |
| Alma Mater: | University of British Columbia (BA) University of Manitoba (MA) 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,[3] and served in the Executive Council of British Columbia from 2005 to 2008.
Born in the Netherlands, she moved to Richmond, British Columbia in 1959, graduating from Steveston Secondary School.[4] 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.[4]
She was hired at Richmond-based Progressive Construction by Milan Ilich in 1980, eventually becoming the company's executive vice-president.[5] [6] At one point she was married to Milan's brother Bob, with whom she has two sons.[6] She went on to found her own real estate company Suncor Development.[4] [6]
She ran for the BC Liberals in the 2005 provincial election, and was elected member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Richmond Centre.[3] 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.[7] [8] 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.[1] [9] In December 2007 she announced her decision to not seek a second term as MLA at the next provincial election;[1] she was dropped from the cabinet in June 2008.[7] [10]
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.[11] She became a member of Destination Canada's board of directors in 2014, and served as chair of the board from 2015 to 2017.[12] [13]