Kim Campbell Facts & Worksheets

Kim Campbell is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and lawyer who became the first and only woman to serve as Canada’s prime minister. As a leader of the Progressive Conservative party, Kim Campbell was in office as the 19th prime minister of Canada from June 25 to November 4, 1993. Not only was she the first female prime minister of Canada, but she was also Canada’s first female minister of justice and the first female minister of defense in a NATO member state. She also served as a minister for Indian Affairs and Northern Affairs and as minister of Veterans’ Affairs.

See the fact file below for more information on Kim Campbell, or you can download our 27-page Kim Campbell worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE

• Kim Campbell was born Avril Phaedra Douglas Campbell on March 10, 1947, in Port Alberni, British Columbia.
• Her father, George Thomas Campbell, had Scottish roots and was a barrister who joined the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in Italy.
• She spent most of her preteens in Vancouver, where her family relocated. 
• She grew up without her mother, Phyllis Margaret (née Cook) after her parents divorced when she was 12 years old.
• During this time, she dropped her original name and nicknamed herself “Kim.”
• Kim and her sister, Alix, were raised by their father.
• At Prince of Wales Secondary School in Vancouver, Kim was at the top of her class and served as the first female president of the school’s student council.
• She graduated class valedictorian in 1964.

EDUCATION

• For college, she attended the University of British Columbia (UBC) where she was also active in student government.
• After she obtained a political science degree in 1969, she pursued doctoral studies at the London School of Economics, specializing in Soviet government.
• Kim decided to stop her doctoral studies and live in Vancouver after marrying her longtime partner Nathan Divinsky in 1972.
• She eventually became an Honorary Fellow of the school.
• She taught political science courses for six years before studying law at UBC.
• After earning her law degree, she was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1984.
• She practiced law in Vancouver for two years before pursuing a full-time political career.

EARLY POLITICAL CAREER

• While in law school, she served on the Vancouver School Board.
• She became chair of that board in 1983 and the vice-chair in 1984.
• In 1983, she ran as a candidate for the Social Credit Party in the British Columbia provincial legislature, but she lost.
• From 1985 to 1986, she worked as the executive director in the office of British Columbia premier Bill Bennett. 
• In June 1986, she launched an unsuccessful bid to get elected as the Social Credit Party’s provincial leader.
• Kim was finally elected in October 1986 as the Social Credit member representing the electoral district of Vancouver-Point Grey.
• During her service, she was able to help implement changes to the province’s Health Act which made it less discriminatory to the LGBTQIA+ community.
• As a person pro-choice, she stood in opposition to Social Credit premier Bill Vander Zalm’s anti-abortion campaigns in 1988.
• She consequently left the party and resigned in October 1988.

FEDERAL POLITICS

• Following her roles in provincial legislature, Kim was elected to the federal parliament as a Progressive Conservative.
• In 1989, she was appointed to be the minister for Indian Affairs and Northern Development by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
• A year later, she was appointed minister of justice and attorney general.
• During her tenure as minister of justice, notable amendments to the Criminal Code in parts of firearms control and sexual assault were made.
• In January 1993, Kim became Canada’s first female minister of national defense and minister of veterans affairs. 
• She was also the first female representative of a member country at a NATO meeting.

TERM AS PRIME MINISTER

• In June 1993, Brian Mulroney resigned from his prime minister position due to a decline in popularity.
• At a party convention, Kim Campbell was selected to replace Mulroney.
• She became the first woman and the first British Columbian prime minister of Canada.
• She was inaugurated as the 19th prime minister of Canada.
• During her term as prime minister, Kim consolidated government departments which resulted in a decrease in the cabinet’s size from 35 to 23. 
• She reorganized the cabinet’s former eight ministries into three: Health, Canadian Heritage, and Public Security.
• She spoke of Canada’s cultural industry at the 19th G7 Summit in Tokyo, Japan.
• Her term lasted nearly five months.
• She left the office in November 1993 after the Progressive Conservative party suffered a landslide electoral defeat and won only two seats in the cabinet in the federal election.
• She never faced a Parliament during her tenure.
• A month later, she resigned from her position as party leader.

POST-POLITICS

• After her resignation from federal politics, she became a fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
• She also continued her service to Canada by becoming the Canadian consul-general in Los Angeles from 1996 to 2000.
• In 2001, she returned to Harvard to lecture at the Center for Public Leadership, where she taught until 2004.
• In 2004, she became a founding member of the Club of Madrid, an independent non-profit organization whose main purpose is to promote and enhance democracy in the international community.
• She has served as the interim president of the Club of Madrid in 2003; vice president from 2003 to 2004; and secretary-general from 2004 to 2006; and she remains an active member to this day.
• She also has served as its Acting President in 2002 and Vice President from 2003-2004 and sat on the Board of Directors from 2007-2011.
• She went on to serve as a chairperson in various non-governmental organizations and committees, such as the Council of Women World Leaders (CWWL), the World Movement for Democracy, and the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments.
• From 2003 to 2005, she served as the president of the International Women’s Forum.
• She also became the founding principal of the new Peter Lougheed Leadership College at the University of Alberta from her appointment in April 2014 until June 2018.
• She is a founding trustee of the International Center for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence at King’s College.
• She is also a popular public speaker who has spoken on a wide array of topics and advocacies, including international policy, education, women’s rights and achievements, and climate action, among other things.
• She has received a wide array of honors and awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and various Lifetime Achievement Awards.

MARRIAGE AND PERSONAL LIFE

• Originally published in 1996, her autobiography, Time and Chance, was released in its fourth edition in 2017.
• She and Nathan Divinsky got divorced in 1983.
• Three years later, she married Howard Eddy, a lawyer in Vancouver.
• Their divorce was finalized in early 1993, shortly before she became prime minister. 
• Her third and present husband, Hershey Felder, is a pianist, actor, and playwright who was born in Montreal, Quebec.

Kim Campbell Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Kim Campbell across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Kim Campbell. As a leader of the Progressive Conservative party, Kim Campbell was in office as the 19th prime minister of Canada from June 25 to November 4, 1993.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Kim Campbell Facts
2. Campbell’s Bio
3. Terms to Remember
4. Career Timeline
5. Turn Into Truth
6. Government Quotes
7. End of Tenure
8. Past Prime Ministers
9. Women World Leaders
10. Non-government Work
11. Interview with a Friend

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Kim Campbell?

Kim Campbell, born Avril Phaedra Campbell, is a Canadian politician and diplomat who served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada from June 25 to November 4, 1993. She was the first and, to date, the only woman to hold the position of Prime Minister in Canada.

How did Kim Campbell become Prime Minister of Canada?

Kim Campbell’s path to becoming Prime Minister began with her involvement in politics. She was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party and held various government positions, including Minister of State for Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Minister of Justice, and Minister of National Defense. In June 1993, the sitting Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced his retirement, and Campbell was elected as the new leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. Consequently, she automatically became the Prime Minister of Canada, leading the party in the general election later that year.

How long was Kim Campbell in office as Prime Minister?

Kim Campbell’s term as Prime Minister of Canada was relatively short. She took office on June 25, 1993, after winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party, and served until November 4, 1993. Her tenure lasted for only about four months, as her party was defeated in the 1993 federal election by the Liberal Party led by Jean Chrétien.

What were some notable achievements of Kim Campbell’s time as Prime Minister?

As Prime Minister, Kim Campbell’s time in office was limited, and her government faced significant challenges. Some of her notable achievements include appointing the first female Speaker of the House of Commons in Canada, and she also advocated for increased representation of women in politics. Additionally, Campbell worked to implement policies to promote environmental protection and sustainable development.

What has Kim Campbell done after her time as Prime Minister?

After her time as Prime Minister, Kim Campbell remained active in public life. She continued to be involved in politics and international affairs, serving as the Canadian Consul General in Los Angeles from 1996 to 2000. Campbell also held positions in various international organizations, including serving as the Secretary-General of the Club of Madrid, an organization of former democratic heads of state and government. Furthermore, she became a sought-after speaker on topics related to leadership, politics, and gender equality.

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