Representative Anita Vandenbeld Contact information

Anita M. Vandenbeld, MP (born December 3, 1971), is a Canadian politician known for her contributions to the Liberal Party of Canada. She was elected as the representative for the Ottawa West—Nepean riding in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 Canadian federal election. Her re-election in 2019 and 2021 reaffirmed her position as a respected member of Parliament.

Currently, Vandenbeld serves as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, where she plays a vital role in shaping Canada’s international development policies and initiatives.

Education and Early Life Anita Vandenbeld was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, in the Bowness neighborhood. She attended Assumption School and completed her high school education at St. Francis High School in 1989. During her teenage years, she worked as a page at the Bowness branch of the Calgary Public Library.

Vandenbeld’s parents were immigrants from the Netherlands who established their lives in Canada. Her father, Herman Vandenbeld, experienced the impact of World War Two firsthand, being born in Deventer, the Netherlands, in 1940. Her parents’ background included involvement in the Dutch underground resistance during the war. In 1960, they immigrated to Canada, bringing with them their possessions, including the bed they used throughout their 52 years of marriage. Anita’s father initially worked as a laborer in Calgary before starting his own piano tuning business, which he operated alongside his wife, Maria, for four decades. Maria, a kindergarten teacher, immigrated to Canada at the age of 19 and eventually met Anita’s father while staying with his family in Calgary.

Anita Vandenbeld became the first member of her family to graduate from university. She attended the University of Calgary, where she earned a B.A. (Honors) in History and Political Science. Later, she pursued further studies at York University, completing her M.A. in Political and Constitutional History in 1994. During her university years, Vandenbeld served as the President of the University of Calgary Young Liberals.

Career International Development Career Anita Vandenbeld dedicated over a decade to international democratic development work, focusing on inclusive governance and women’s leadership. She worked in more than 20 countries, advocating for women’s political participation, parliamentary development, and Women, Peace, and Security.

United Nations Vandenbeld held various positions with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNIFEM. In New York, she managed the International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics, a global network promoting women’s political participation. She also worked at the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre in Norway. Additionally, Vandenbeld served as a technical specialist on parliamentary committees and outreach in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her contributions include being the lead author of a study on the decline of women’s representation in Vietnamese politics and conducting numerous trainings on women’s political leadership worldwide.

IKNOWPolitics As the global manager of the International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKNOWPolitics.org), Vandenbeld expanded the project’s reach by hiring regional project managers across different continents. iKNOWPolitics, initiated by five international organizations, aimed to encourage women’s political participation. Vandenbeld oversaw the project’s expansion, including its launch in the Asia-Pacific region, and played a role in projects such as ‘Women’s Leadership for Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa’ in partnership with the Club de Madrid.

National Democratic Institute Anita Vandenbeld collaborated with the National Democratic Institute in various capacities, such as serving as the resident director in the Democratic Republic of Congo and conducting a women’s political leadership academy in Sure, here’s the continuation:

Afghanistan and Yemen. She also facilitated a program on Women, Peace, and Security in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Political Career Anita Vandenbeld’s political career began when she decided to run for office as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Liberal Party of Canada. In the 2015 Canadian federal election, she successfully won the seat for the Ottawa West—Nepean riding, defeating the incumbent Conservative MP.

During her time in Parliament, Vandenbeld has been an active advocate for women’s rights, gender equality, and social justice. She has served on various committees, including the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, and the Subcommittee on International Human Rights. Through these roles, she has worked on issues related to international development, human rights, and gender equality.

In addition to her committee work, Vandenbeld has been involved in several parliamentary associations and groups, including the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and Other Crimes against Humanity.

Throughout her political career, Anita Vandenbeld has been recognized for her dedication and contributions. In 2019, she was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, where she continues to play a key role in shaping Canada’s international development agenda.

Personal Life Anita Vandenbeld is married and has two children. She balances her political career with her family life and remains actively engaged in her community.