“If elected as your MLA, I will fight for your access to vital community services, like reliable healthcare and social housing, and will champion a green future for us all.”

Maria J. Cruz (she/her) is an artist, educator, community advocate, union member, and longtime renter in Vancouver-South Granville. For 15 years, she has called the community home while building a career centred on culture, education, public service, and creating opportunities for others.

As a renter and longtime resident of Vancouver-South Granville, Maria is focused on housing, healthcare, social housing, and building a greener future. She believes people who choose to build their lives here should have the opportunity to live with security, dignity, and access to the services they need.

Maria works as an Outreach Worker in the Vancouver School Board’s Adult Education program, where she supports newcomers and lifelong learners as they build skills, confidence, and pathways toward new opportunities. Helping immigrants and refugees find belonging through education has become an important part of her community work.

Maria has worked in the past as a Culture and Heritage Planner and Museum Collections Manager, helping preserve and promote arts and heritage across British Columbia. Her work has included writing arts policy for local communities in B.C. and managing public and private collections for the City of Richmond.

She is also an actor and a longtime member of the UBCP/ACTRA union, with nearly 30 years of experience in B.C.’s performing arts community. Maria has worked in film, television, and theatre, including performing her one-woman show at the Azores International Fringe Festival.

Maria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Art History from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. She has been active in municipal politics and community organizing in Vancouver and brings a strong commitment to workers, renters, accessible public services, and environmental responsibility.