Joanne Thompson was elected the Member of Parliament for St. John’s East in September 2021. M.P. Thompson is Chair of the National Seniors Caucus and sits on the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development and the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.

M.P. Joanne Thompson's Voting Record

Born and raised in St. John’s, Joanne is committed to social justice, entrepreneurship, and supporting communities. Her passion for helping others was ignited at a young age when she started volunteering at St. Clare’s Hospital. Joanne went on to complete nurses’ training and worked as a Registered Nurse while attending Memorial University part-time. She continued her career in community health until 1990 when she turned her focus to building a family business with her husband, working two jobs while studying to qualify as a graduate gemologist.

Joanne most recently served as the Executive Director of The Gathering Place, a community health centre serving vulnerable populations in downtown St. John’s. Under her leadership, The Gathering Place added an overnight shelter and saw a 400% increase in available services over a four-year period.

A lifelong learner, Joanne earned a Bachelor of Nursing, as well as an MBA specializing in Social Enterprise. In 2018 she was named a Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Champion and also received the Senate of Canada Sesquicentennial Medal for her generosity, dedication, and volunteerism in the community.

Joanne has always been an active volunteer, even going back to recertify as a Registered Nurse in 2009 to offer hands-on care to our city’s most vulnerable. She again put these skills to work on the frontlines of COVID-19 when The Gathering Place remained open throughout the lockdown.

Joanne has three grown children and lives in St. John’s East with her husband and two boisterous dogs Leo and Ebbie. Rain or shine, you can often find her hiking our province’s beautiful trails.