Karen Stintz will be joining the delegates of the 2013 Regional Conference as their luncheon guest on Wednesday. Karen who is also a dog owner, was featured in the recent CBC/Bountiful Films production of DOG DAZED. She will briefly address her experience as the elected official in the middle of the Ledbury Park neighborhood war over off-leash dogs.
Karen is a city councillor in Toronto, Canada. She represents Ward 16, one of two municipal wards enclosed within the federal-provincial riding of Eglinton—Lawrence. She is also the current Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission, the third busiest public transit system in North America.[1]
Karen grew up in North York and attended St. Joseph's Morrow Park. After receiving a BA from University of Western Ontario, she obtained a Master of Science degree in Journalism from Boston University and worked briefly as a journalist. Returning to school, she received a Master of Public Administration degree from Queen's University, and launched her present career.
"As a politician I have learned that there are two things that you never do. You never change parking restrictions and you never get yourself involved in a dog park."
"As a politician I have learned that there are two things that you never do. You never change parking restrictions and you never get yourself involved in a dog park."
Karen learned the hard way not to get between voters and their dogs. But it has becoming increasingly more difficult for politicians to get away from dog debates. Canine ownership has doubled in Canada over the past decade and all those dogs need somewhere to run, play, and evacuate.
A positive pet experience includes understanding how dog owners and other citizens can live together in neighborhoods that serve the purposes of all. Karen's segment of the Conference will set up the Pet Experience Project workshops, directed by Dr. Jason Coe during the afternoon.
