View source for Ravi Kahlon

{{Short description|Canadian politician and athlete (born 1979)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name             = Ravi Kahlon
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|MLABC|size=100%}}
| image            = Ravi Kahlon.png
| alt              = 
| caption          = Kahlon in 2016
| office           = Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs of [[British Columbia]]<br /><small>Minister of Housing (2022-2024)</small>
| term_start       = December 7, 2022
| term_end         = 
| predecessor      = {{plainlist|
* [[Murray Rankin]] (Housing)
* [[Anne Kang]] (Municipal Affairs)
}}
| successor        = 
| premier          = [[David Eby]]
| office1          = Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation of [[British Columbia]]
| term_start1      = November 26, 2020
| term_end1        = December 7, 2022
| predecessor1     = [[Michelle Mungall]]
| successor1       = [[Brenda Bailey]] (Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation)
| premier1         = {{plainlist|
* [[John Horgan]]
* [[David Eby]]
}}
| office2          = Parliamentary Secretary for Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development of [[British Columbia]]
| term_start2      = July 26, 2019
| term_end2        = November 26, 2020
| predecessor2     = ''Position established''
| successor2       = [[Roly Russell]] (Rural Development)
| premier2         = [[John Horgan]]
| office3          = Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Multiculturalism of [[British Columbia]]
| term_start3      = July 18, 2017
| term_end3        = July 26, 2019
| predecessor3     = [[Sam Sullivan]] (Minister of Sport)
| successor3       = ''Position abolished''
| premier3         = [[John Horgan]]
| constituency_AM4 = [[Delta North]]
| assembly4        = British Columbia Legislative
| term_start4      = May 9, 2017
| term_end4        = 
| predecessor4     = [[Scott Hamilton (politician)|Scott Hamilton]]
| successor4       = 
| birth_name       = Ravinder Kahlon
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1979|5|15}}<ref name="HOF"/>
| birth_place      = [[Victoria, British Columbia]], Canada
| residence        = [[Delta, British Columbia]], Canada
| party            = [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|BC NDP]]
| occupation       = {{hlist|Athlete|politician}}
| module       = {{Infobox sportsperson|embed=yes
| nationality  = [[Canadians|Canadian]]
| sport        = [[Field hockey]]
| height       = 6 ft 3 in
| weight       = 
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[field hockey]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada]] }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2007 Pan American Games|2007 Rio de Janeiro]] | [[Field hockey at the 2007 Pan American Games|Team]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2003 Pan American Games|2003 Santo Domingo]] | [[Field hockey at the 2003 Pan American Games|Team]] }}
}}
}}

'''Ravinder''' "'''Ravi'''" '''Kahlon''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|MLABC}} (born May 15, 1979) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] politician and athlete. He is a [[member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) of [[British Columbia]], representing the riding of [[Delta North]] as a member of the [[British Columbia New Democratic Party]] (BC NDP). He has served in the cabinet of British Columbia since 2020, currently as Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. As a [[field hockey]] player, he has represented Canada at several international events, including the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000]] and [[2008 Summer Olympics]].

==Early life and playing career==
Kahlon was born and raised in [[Victoria, British Columbia]]; his mother was a restaurateur, while his father was a sawmill worker.<ref name="BCGovBio">{{cite web|title=Honourable Ravi Kahlon|url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/ministries/jobs-economic-recovery-and-innovation/biography|publisher=Government of British Columbia|access-date=2022-04-26}}</ref> He was introduced to field hockey by his family at the age of 7, and began playing as a defender in the Victoria League at age twelve.<ref name="HOF"/> He graduated from [[Lambrick Park Secondary School]], where he also played basketball.<ref name="TC170520"/> He was selected to the junior national field hockey team in 1999 and was named team captain.<ref name="HOF"/> Kahlon was a student at [[Camosun College]] in Victoria at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ravi Kahlon |url=http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/91664 |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=Olympedia}}</ref> He earned his first international senior cap for the [[Canada men's national field hockey team|Men's National Team]] in 2000 against [[Malaysia men's national field hockey team|Malaysia]] in [[Brussels]].<ref name="HOF"/>

Eventually competing at every level of international competition, Kahlon's career would include playing three times in [[Hockey World Cup]] qualifying tournaments, representing Canada at the [[2002 Commonwealth Games|2002]] and [[2006 Commonwealth Games]],<ref name="TC170520">{{cite news |last=Dheensaw |first=Cleve |date=2017-05-20 |title=Field-hockey Olympian Ravi Kahlon starts life as MLA |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/field-hockey-olympian-ravi-kahlon-starts-life-as-mla-4649836 |work=The Times-Colonist |location=Victoria, BC |access-date=2022-04-26 }}</ref> a gold medal performance at the [[Field hockey at the 2007 Pan American Games – Men's tournament|2007 Pan American Games]],<ref name="CBC201207">{{cite news |last=Morris |first=Jim |date=2020-12-07 |title=How Ravi Kahlon's Olympic experience is helping him in role as B.C. cabinet minister |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/bc-cabinet-minister-ravi-khalon-olympic-experience-1.5827946 |work=CBC Sports |access-date=2022-04-26 }}</ref> and tenth-place finishes at the [[Field hockey at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2000 Summer Olympics]] in [[Sydney]] and [[Field hockey at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]].<ref name="HOF"/>

He moved to the [[Metro Vancouver]] suburb of [[Delta, British Columbia|Delta]] in 2005 to facilitate his career with the [[Vancouver]]-based national field hockey team.<ref name="BCGovBio"/><ref name="TC170520"/> After retiring from playing, he began a career in banking, and also served as director of stakeholder relations for the BC NDP caucus.<ref name="CBC201207"/><ref name="BCLeg42">{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members/42nd-Parliament/Kahlon-Ravi |title=MLA: Hon. Ravi Kahlon |publisher=[[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]] |accessdate=2022-04-26 }}</ref> In 2013, Kahlon was inducted into the Delta Sports Hall of Fame.<ref name="HOF">{{cite web|title=Ravi Kahlon - Delta Sports Hall of Fame|url=http://www.deltasportshalloffame.ca/project/ravi-kahlon/|website=Delta Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=22 October 2016}}</ref>

==Political career==
In October 2016, Kahlon announced he would be running for office in the [[2017 British Columbia general election|2017 provincial election]] with the BC NDP;<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kahlon|first1=Ravi|title=Community leader and Olympian Ravi Kahlon seeks North Delta seat for BC NDP|url=http://ravikahlon.ca/2016/10/22/community-leader-and-olympian-ravi-kahlon-seeks-north-delta-seat-for-bc-ndp/|website=ravikahlon.ca|access-date=22 October 2016}}</ref> he won the NDP nomination in [[Delta North]]. That riding is considered a swing district, having been won three times each by the BC NDP and [[British Columbia Liberal Party]] in the six elections prior to 2017. When the election was held on May 9, 2017, Kahlon defeated Liberal incumbent [[Scott Hamilton (politician)|Scott Hamilton]] by a margin of 9.14 percentage points.

The 2017 British Columbia election resulted in a [[hung parliament]], with no party controlling a majority of seats in the [[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|Legislative Assembly]]. However, the NDP was eventually able to form a minority government with the support of the [[Green Party of British Columbia]]. The NDP government was sworn in on July 18, 2017, with new [[Premier of British Columbia|Premier]] [[John Horgan]] naming Kahlon as [[Parliamentary Secretary]] for Sport and Multiculturalism.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shaw |first=Rob |date=July 18, 2017 |title=B.C. NDP Cabinet 2017: Metro Vancouver MLAs handed key cabinet roles |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-ndp-cabinet-2017-john-horgan-will-be-sworn-in-as-36th-premier |work=Vancouver Sun |location=Vancouver |access-date=March 1, 2018 }}</ref> Kahlon was later named Parliamentary Secretary for Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.<ref name="DO201126">{{cite news |last=Gyarmati |first=Sandor |date=2020-11-26 |title=Delta North MLA Kahlon makes cabinet |url=https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/delta-north-mla-kahlon-makes-cabinet-3149167 |work=The Delta Optimist |access-date=2022-04-26 }}</ref>

Kahlon supported eventual winner [[Jagmeet Singh]] for leader of the federal [[New Democratic Party]] in [[2017 New Democratic Party leadership election|that party's 2017 leadership election]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Forrest |first=Maura |date=July 11, 2017 |title=NDP leadership tracker: Wab Kinew endorses Jagmeet Singh |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/ndp-leadership-tracker-caron-racks-up-endorsements-ahead-of-saskatoon-debate |work=National Post |access-date=March 1, 2018 |quote=“Jagmeet, like many of B.C.’s newly elected MLAs, represents a new energy that is the future of our party. I’ve seen Jagmeet in action here in BC and watched him connect with people. Jagmeet is the leader our federal party needs,” said Ravi Kahlon, the MLA for Delta North, in a statement.}}</ref>

Following his re-election in [[2020 British Columbia general election|2020]], in which he won 56.78% of the vote, he was named Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation.<ref name="DO201126"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-cabinet-announcement-1.5816947 |title=New faces join B.C.'s new cabinet, while stalwarts stay on in key roles |publisher=[[CBC News]] |first1=Bethany |last1=Lindsay |date=2020-11-26 |accessdate=2022-04-24 }}</ref>

After Horgan announced his retirement as premier and party leader in 2022, Kahlon endorsed [[David Eby]] and joined as co-chair of Eby's campaign, alongside [[Katrina Chen]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balzer |first=Jess |date=2022-07-22 |title=Burnaby MLA Katrina Chen to co-chair David Eby's BC NDP leadership campaign |url=https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/burnaby-mla-katrina-chen-to-co-chair-david-ebys-bc-ndp-leadership-campaign-5613860 |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=Burnaby Now |language=en}}</ref> Kahlon was subsequently named Minister of Housing and Government House Leader in the [[Eby ministry]] on December 7, 2022.<ref>{{Cite press release |date=2022-12-07 |title=New cabinet ready to take action on cost of living, health care, housing, climate |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022PREM0097-001863 |access-date=2022-12-09 |publisher=Office of the Premier of British Columbia |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2025, during the [[2025 United States trade war with Canada and Mexico|trade war with the United States]], Kahlon was named to chair the cabinet committee coordinating the province's response.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kurjata |first=Andrew |date=January 29, 2025 |title=B.C.'s 'war room' minister leading tariff fight describes Trump team as 'bullies' |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ravi-kahlon-war-room-1.7445421 |access-date=March 7, 2025 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>

==Electoral record==
{{2020 British Columbia general election/Delta North}}
{{2017 British Columbia general election/Delta North}}

==International senior competitions==
* 2000 — [[2000 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]], Sydney (10th)
* 2001 — World Cup Qualifier, Edinburgh (8th)
* 2002 — [[2002 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]], Manchester (6th)
* 2003 — [[2003 Pan American Games|Pan American Games]], Santo Domingo (2nd)
* 2004 — [[2004 Men's Hockey Olympic Qualifier|Olympic Qualifying Tournament]], Madrid (11th)
* 2004 — [[2004 Men's Pan American Cup|Pan American Cup]], London (2nd)
* 2006 — [[2006 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]], Melbourne (9th)
* 2007 — [[2007 Pan American Games|Pan American Games]], Rio de Janeiro (1st)
* 2008 — [[2008 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]], Beijing (10th)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{International Hockey Federation|10416|Ravinder Kahlon}}
* {{COC|ravinder-kahlon|Ravinder Kahlon}}
* {{CGF}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|ravi-kahlon}}
* {{Olympedia}}

{{British Columbia MLAs}}
{{Eby ministry}}
{{Horgan ministry}}
{{Canada FH Squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{Canada FH Squad 2007 Pan American Games}}
{{Canada FH Squad 2008 Summer Olympics}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kahlon, Ravi}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Canadian male field hockey players]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2007 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic field hockey players for Canada]]
[[Category:Politicians from Victoria, British Columbia]]
[[Category:Field hockey players from Victoria, British Columbia]]
[[Category:People from Delta, British Columbia]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:Canadian Sikhs]]
[[Category:Canadian sportsperson-politicians]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for Canada]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for Canada]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian sportspeople of Indian descent]]
[[Category:British Columbia New Democratic Party MLAs]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2007 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Camosun College alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]]