MLA Sue Hammell - Surrey-Green Timbers

Today we are praying for MLA Sue Hammell, MLA for Surrey Green Timbers.

Lord, our prayer focus today is Sue Hammell and her far reaching work which has taken her out of province as well as country to participate in the betterment of women and to help women in positions of governmental power. Sue has been on the cutting edge of bringing about awareness on women’s issues, building programs to empower women to help realize their potential as well as working with Aboriginal people. Her concern for humanity is evident and is to be greatly appreciated. We thank you Lord for people like Sue who make the sacrifices to go beyond what may be considered their area of responsibility and who take what they have been given to bless others. In turn we ask that you pour blessings upon Sue and her family – we see a woman that is like many of the women of the Bible, women who were placed for ‘such a time as this’ to facilitate great things and to help their people, women who rose up as great leaders because they weren’t afraid to take risk or weren’t willing to take a backseat but who instead were ‘radical’ history makers. Continue to expand Sue’s territory, her ability to influence people and to bring about positive change.

Sue Hammell was first elected as the MLA for Surrey – Green Timbers in 1991 and was re-elected in 1996. She was re-elected again on May 17, 2005.


Sue was elected Assistant Deputy Speaker of the Legislature.

Sue served in a number of cabinet positions as MLA, including Minister of Housing, Recreation and Consumer Services, Minister Responsible for Co-operatives, and the Minister for Women's Equality. In addition, she was Government Caucus Chair and was active on several legislative committees.

Sue is also a founding member of the Minerva Foundation for BC Women, initiated in 1999 to provide funds for projects that will assist women to realize their potential and to create a safe place for them to live and work in British Columbia.

Sue has been working with Washington DC-based National Democratic Institute since 2000. With NDI she traveled to the Middle East five times to work with emerging political parties and female candidates.

In 2002, Sue worked with the Surrey Aboriginal Society as their Executive Director. She developed the Society into a modern urban centre for aboriginal people with an annual budget of over 2 million dollars.

Born in Vancouver, Sue was raised on Sea Island in Richmond. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of British Columbia, she taught in Verdun, Quebec, in Courtenay and Surrey.

Sue is married and has one grown daughter, Sage. Sue and her husband John have lived in the Surrey Green Timbers area since 1990.