YOLANDE JAMES Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities, Quebec, Canada Appointed April 18, 2007 by Premier Jean Charest to the position of Minister of Immigration, Yolande James is the first Black person to hold a ministerial post in Quebec, Canada. Ms. James, born in Montreal, is the daughter of Frank and Tomacuita James of St. Lucia, now residing in Pierrefonds. She attended Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School, Vanier College, Queens University and University of Montreal, completing degrees in common law and civil law before being called to the Bar in 2004. After working as Political Attaché for now retired Russell Williams, she won his seat in the West Island riding of Nelligan September 2004 in a by-election. The voters of Nelligan confirmed her as their choice by giving her a landslide victory in the 2007 provincial election. Quebec National Assembly website: www.assnat.qc.ca/eng/Membres/notices/j-l/jamy1.shtml