Karen believes the City's responsibility lies in delivering key services and providing the infrastructure Ward 5 residents need while remaining cost effective.

Karen advocated for…
•    Changing the City's budgeting process to align the City's vision, project goals and budget to ensure you receive the best value for your tax dollars.
•    Forging strategic partnerships between business and community leaders to generate sustainable economic development opportunities for the West end.
•    Fiscal Participatory Democracy by involving citizens in the City's budget deliberations through town hall meetings and citizen advisory panels.
•    Building partnerships with both the Federal and Provincial governments to secure an increased share of tax revenue for municipalities.

Karen knows transportation issues and transit accessibility are vital to the West End's growth and important to Ward 5 residents.

Karen fought for…
•    Dedicated bus lanes for point-to-point service from West Edmonton Mall to the South Edmonton Campus LRT station.
•    Establishing the development of a West LRT route as a top transportation priority for City Council.
•    Traffic safety initiatives focused on reducing accidents and making residential streets safer for all Ward 5 neighbourhoods.
•    Securing the construction of the West End overpasses on the Anthony Henday.
•    More frequent snow removal from our city streets, neighbourhoods and river valley trails.

Karen understands that access to parks, recreational facilities and community services are essential for building a healthy active community.

Karen worked for…
•    Better recreation and leisure facilities in the West End such as the construction of the Callingwood skateboard park and spray park, which provides needed recreational facilities for our youth.
•    Improvements in delivering community recreational services through upgrades to the Bill Hunter Arena and completion of the St Francis Xavier Field House and Sports Centre.
•    The construction of the Lois Hole Library to meet the growing educational and community needs of the West end.
•    Rehabilitation and revitalization programs for our mature neighbourhoods.

As an effective and experienced representative, Karen's common-sense approach has resulted in many initiatives moving forward. Her three terms representing the West End on City Council, leadership on a municipal, provincial and national level, as well as her understanding of business and community issues, provides Ward 5 residents with a strong voice in shaping the future growth of the West End.

In addition to representing Ward 5, Karen also served as…

• Member of the Edmonton Police Commission

• Chair of the Stop Marijuana Grow Ops Committee

• Mayor's designate to the Homelessness Task Force

• Chair of the Affordable Housing Initiative

• Second Vice-President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) & Chair of the FCM's Green Municipal Funds Council

• Vice-Chair of the Contaminated Gas Stations Task Force

• Co-Chair of Edmonton's Circumpolar Initiative

The health, prosperity and safety of our streets, our neighbourhoods, and our communities are a result of our commitment to building a future together. Working together, we can ensure a balanced, responsible and sustainable approach towards the continued growth of Ward 5.

As your Ward 5 Councillor, I will continue to…

•    Ask the tough questions on the issues brought before Council.

•    Require our tax dollars be spent wisely by promoting cost effective initiatives.

•    Safeguard the environmental integrity of the West End's parks, trails and green spaces.

•    Put transportation issues before Council and City Administration to prevent West End gridlock.

•    Listen to your concerns, and take action on your behalf.