Constance Barnes
Encyclopedia
Constance Barnes is an elected Vancouver Park Board
commissioner in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia
, Canada
and operations manager of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
. She was elected in 2008 as a member of the Vision Vancouver
slate.
, who was one of the first two black politicians elected to a legislative office in British Columbia, and Laverne Barnes, Canada’s first female sport commentator. She grew up in Port Moody, British Columbia.
and local television stations. She went on to numerous roles in shows such as the X Files, Poltergeist
, and 21 Jump Street
.
. A passenger in the car was left an incomplete quadriplegic. The judgment was for $445,000. Barnes was 17 at the time of the accident.
, Barnes admitted that driving under the influence of alcohol was "a really stupid mistake." In a press release issued on June 10, 2009 Barnes stated, "I have made a serious mistake. On May 23, 2009 I was charged with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. I was returning home from an afternoon at Iona Beach in Richmond
and was arrested and charged by the Vancouver Police Department
around 11pm. I do not intend to challenge this charge. The police arrested me outside of a home in South Vancouver where I had fallen asleep at the wheel and hit a residential home. No-one was injured in this incident, however there was damage to the property. I take full responsibility for my actions and acknowledge my lack of judgment." Barnes appeared in court on September 24, 2009 and pleaded guilty. She had her drivers license suspended for one year, was fined $1000 for driving over the legal limit and $750 for dangerous driving.
After the incident Barnes took a medical leave and got involved with Alcoholics Anonymous
,
Barnes enrolled for treatment on Bowen Island
at the Orchard Recovery Centre, a residential drug rehabilitation
and alcohol addiction treatment centre.
Vancouver Park Board
The Vancouver Park Board is an elected board with exclusive possession, jurisdiction and control over public parks in the City of Vancouver. Established by section 485 of the Vancouver Charter, the Park Board , is one of the only elected bodies of its kind in Canada...
commissioner in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and operations manager of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is the first full-size Chinese or "scholars" garden built outside of China, and is located in Chinatown in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is located at 578 Carrall Street and consists of a freely accessible public park and a garden with an...
. She was elected in 2008 as a member of the Vision Vancouver
Vision Vancouver
Vision Vancouver is one of three parties represented on Vancouver City Council in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vision was formed in the months leading up to the 2005 municipal election.-Formation:...
slate.
Background
Barnes is the daughter of the late Emery BarnesEmery Barnes
Emery Barnes, OBC was a Canadian football player and Canadian politician.Born in Louisiana and raised in Oregon, Barnes was a gifted athlete, and was an alternate hi-jumper for the 1952 US Olympic Track and Field team...
, who was one of the first two black politicians elected to a legislative office in British Columbia, and Laverne Barnes, Canada’s first female sport commentator. She grew up in Port Moody, British Columbia.
Acting career
Barnes started acting at age 12 and prior to raising her children appeared with the CBCCBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
and local television stations. She went on to numerous roles in shows such as the X Files, Poltergeist
Poltergeist: The Legacy
Poltergeist: The Legacy is a Canadian horror television series which ran from 1996 to 1999. The series tells the story of the members of a secret society known as the Legacy, and their efforts to protect humankind from occult dangers...
, and 21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street is an American police procedural crime drama television series that aired on the Fox Network from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 103 episodes. The series focused on a squad of youthful-looking undercover police officers investigating crimes in high schools,...
.
Emery Barnes Park
Barnes was instrumental in the naming of Emery Barnes Park, in honour of her father.1976 Car accident
There was a civil judgment against Barnes and her father as a result of an accident in 1976 where she was driving on Vancouver IslandVancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
. A passenger in the car was left an incomplete quadriplegic. The judgment was for $445,000. Barnes was 17 at the time of the accident.
2009 Drunk driving incident
On June 10, 2009 during a press conference at SFU Harbour CentreHarbour Centre
Harbour Centre is a notable skyscraper in the central business district of Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The "Lookout" tower atop the office building makes it one of the tallest structures in Vancouver and a prominent landmark on the city's skyline...
, Barnes admitted that driving under the influence of alcohol was "a really stupid mistake." In a press release issued on June 10, 2009 Barnes stated, "I have made a serious mistake. On May 23, 2009 I was charged with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. I was returning home from an afternoon at Iona Beach in Richmond
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
and was arrested and charged by the Vancouver Police Department
Vancouver Police Department
The Vancouver Police Department is the police force for the City of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several police departments within the Metro Vancouver Area and is the second largest police force in the province after RCMP "E" Division.VPD was the first Canadian police force...
around 11pm. I do not intend to challenge this charge. The police arrested me outside of a home in South Vancouver where I had fallen asleep at the wheel and hit a residential home. No-one was injured in this incident, however there was damage to the property. I take full responsibility for my actions and acknowledge my lack of judgment." Barnes appeared in court on September 24, 2009 and pleaded guilty. She had her drivers license suspended for one year, was fined $1000 for driving over the legal limit and $750 for dangerous driving.
After the incident Barnes took a medical leave and got involved with Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
,
Barnes enrolled for treatment on Bowen Island
Bowen Island
Bowen Island, British Columbia, is an island municipality in Howe Sound, is part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, and is an island included within the jurisdiction of the Islands Trust . Approximately 6 km wide by 12 km long, the island at its closest point is about 2 km...
at the Orchard Recovery Centre, a residential drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
and alcohol addiction treatment centre.