Rita Johnston
Rita Johnston (born April 22, 1935) was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Johnson became Canada's first female Premier, when she succeeded William Vander Zalm in 1991.
She first entered politics as a city councillor in the city of Surrey, British Columbia, then as a member of BC's legislative assembly running under the Social Credit Party.
She became a cabinet minister under Premier William Vander Zalm, who was the former mayor of Surrey. She was made deputy premier. When Vander Zalm resigned on April 2, 1991, Johnson succeeded him and became acting premier.
At a Party convention in July 1991 she was formally elected elected leader of the Social Credit Party of BC, in a surprise upset, defeating the favored front-runner Grace McCarthy. Johnson became British Columbia's 28th Premier on April 2, 1991, making her Canada's first female Premier. She served only briefly and was defeated in the November 1991 provincial election by the Michael Harcourt-led B.C. New Democratic Party. She resigned as leader of the BC Social Credit Party on January 11, 1992.
