Karen Harper is a dedicated community and business leader, a long-time Saanich resident and a candidate for re-election to Saanich Council in the upcoming 2022 municipal election.
She brings over 35 years of experience in helping organizations become accountable, efficient, responsible and respectful.
Karen’s career - teacher, manager of a teachers provincial long term disability plan, Senior Vice-President of the BC Pension Corporation - was based on critical thinking, collaboration and leadership in creating positive and necessary changes.
As a Saanich Councillor since 2017, Karen continues to try to find cost effective and efficient ways to provide municipal services. She supports significant cultural change organizationally to increase communication between departments to make it easier for you when working with Saanich on your own or community issues. She believes in community consultation at a strategic level in order to create a vision for Saanich.
Qualifications
- Member, Finance and Strategic Priorities Committee
- Member, Mayor's Standing Committee on Housing Affordability & Supply
- Panelist, Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel
- Member, Public Safety & Emergency Planning Committee
- Capital Region Emergency Services Telecommunications (CREST)
- Trustee, Greater Victoria Public Library Board
- Chair, Library Finance Committee, GVPL
- Library Representative on Greater Victoria Labour Relations Board Chair, Environment and Natural Areas Advisory Committee
- Vice Chair, Housing Strategy Task Force
- Former Chair, Arts, Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee
- Former Chair, Active Transportation Advisory Committee
Capital Regional District Appointments
- Director, Regional Water Supply Commission
Community and Volunteer Activities
- Treasurer, Camosun Community Association, 2016 - 2017
- Secretary Treasurer Grumpy Taxpayers (currently on leave)
Education
● Masters of Education, University of Victoria, 1978
● B.A., Faculty of Arts, Simon Fraser University, 1971
● Teaching Certificate, Simon Fraser University, 1971
Community Organizations
● Treasurer, Camosun Community Association
● Director, Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria
● Director, Amalgamation Yes
