Karen Farbridge
Encyclopedia
Karen J. Farbridge is a mayor
and a former city councillor of the city of Guelph
, Ontario
.
Karen was first elected to Guelph City Council in 1994, representing Ward 1. In 2000 she became Guelph's first woman Mayor. In all, Karen served on Council for 9 years and continues to serve the City of Guelph through her many volunteering pursuits.
During her six years as Councillor, she was a member of a number of committees including: Finance and Administration; Community Services; Planning, Environment and Transportation; Guelph Economic Development Advisory; and the Downtown Economic Strategy Steering. She was also a member of the Police Services Board, the Wellington-Dufferin Health Unit Board and the Guelph Non-Profit Housing Board.
Karen was the first woman to hold the office of Mayor in Guelph. During her tenure she initiated an extensive community consultation process designed to develop a strategic framework to manage community change. The resulting plan—called SmartGuelph—emphasized the importance of collaborative-based decision making along with the need to balance economic, social and environmental sustainability. SmartGuelph was one of a national series of similarly focused initiatives.
Most recently, Karen has worked on strategic initiatives for the Office of Vice President Research at the University of Guelph and taught courses on cities, democracy and environmental policy for the Department of Political Science. She also regularly speaks and writes on issues of urban sustainability.
In 2005, Karen was the recipient of the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph’s prestigious Women of Distinction Award in the business and professions category.
In the 2006 municipal election
, Farbridge defeated Kate Quarrie
and regained the mayor's chair.
In 2009 December, Karen gave a speech at Taylor Evans Public School, talking to the students about perseverance as well giving back to the community.
On February 24, 2010, Karen announced she would seek re-election and a third term as mayor of the City of Guelph in the Guelph municipal election, 2010
. On Monday, October 25, 2010, Karen won the mayoral race with 54% of the vote.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and a former city councillor of the city of Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Karen was first elected to Guelph City Council in 1994, representing Ward 1. In 2000 she became Guelph's first woman Mayor. In all, Karen served on Council for 9 years and continues to serve the City of Guelph through her many volunteering pursuits.
During her six years as Councillor, she was a member of a number of committees including: Finance and Administration; Community Services; Planning, Environment and Transportation; Guelph Economic Development Advisory; and the Downtown Economic Strategy Steering. She was also a member of the Police Services Board, the Wellington-Dufferin Health Unit Board and the Guelph Non-Profit Housing Board.
Karen was the first woman to hold the office of Mayor in Guelph. During her tenure she initiated an extensive community consultation process designed to develop a strategic framework to manage community change. The resulting plan—called SmartGuelph—emphasized the importance of collaborative-based decision making along with the need to balance economic, social and environmental sustainability. SmartGuelph was one of a national series of similarly focused initiatives.
Most recently, Karen has worked on strategic initiatives for the Office of Vice President Research at the University of Guelph and taught courses on cities, democracy and environmental policy for the Department of Political Science. She also regularly speaks and writes on issues of urban sustainability.
In 2005, Karen was the recipient of the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph’s prestigious Women of Distinction Award in the business and professions category.
In the 2006 municipal election
Ontario municipal elections, 2006
In the 2006 municipal elections in Ontario, voters in the province of Ontario, elected mayors, councillors, school board trustees and all other elected officials in all of Ontario's municipalities. These elections were regulated by the .- Date :...
, Farbridge defeated Kate Quarrie
Kate Quarrie
Kate Quarrie is a Canadian politician who served as the second female mayor of Guelph, Ontario from 2003 to 2006.A native of Guelph, Kate Quarrie was defeated by Karen Farbridge in the November 2006 municipal election.-External links:*...
and regained the mayor's chair.
In 2009 December, Karen gave a speech at Taylor Evans Public School, talking to the students about perseverance as well giving back to the community.
On February 24, 2010, Karen announced she would seek re-election and a third term as mayor of the City of Guelph in the Guelph municipal election, 2010
Guelph municipal election, 2010
The 2010 Guelph municipal election were held on October 25, 2010 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, to elect the Mayor of Guelph, Guelph City Council and the Guelph members of the Upper Grand District School Board and Wellington Catholic District School Board...
. On Monday, October 25, 2010, Karen won the mayoral race with 54% of the vote.