TRANSIT WORKING GROUP - Key Persons

Karen O'Shannacery has been a housing advocate for the homeless and disenfranchised for 45+ years. She was the Executive Director and a founding member of Lookout Society, creating over 1,300 minimal-barrier shelter and housing beds and serving over 10,000 people annually. She co-founded a number of networks including the Vancouver Urban Core Community Workers Association, Greater Vancouver Shelter Strategy and the provincial Shelter Net BC. Karen continues to be active with committees focusing on people challenged by serious mental illness, addictions and homelessness. Karen has been honoured for her continuing contributions, including receiving the Order of BC, the Diamond Jubilee Medal and the City of Vancouver Civic Merit Award.

Job Titles:

• Planner for Both the City of Vancouver

Peter Greenwell has worked as a Planner for both the City of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver. He was the Director of The Gathering Pace Community Centre for many years, where he worked to expand both legal assistance and health services for local residents. Peter initiated the City of Vancouver's Extreme Weather Shelter response in the downtown core. For many years Peter served as Chair of the Vancouver City Planning Commission an advisory body to Vancouver City Council. Currently, Peter is a PhD Candidate in the Social Dimensions of Heath program at the University of Victoria focussing research on the transportation access and exiting homelessness.

Wanda Mulholland has been advocating for a continuum of housing, services and supports for Burnaby's vulnerable living in extreme poverty since 2004. As a Social Worker with the province, she assisted individuals and families establish and/or maintain safety and housing, and access health care, education, training and employment. In 2005, she collaborated to found the Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness, a network of diverse stakeholders planning solutions for Burnaby's homeless. She forged strategic alliances and partnerships between non-profits, the faith community, schools, community groups, businesses, the Burnaby Board of Trade, the City and residents to educate and establish homeless initiatives in Burnaby. She was a founding member that created and implemented services to the homeless that provide access to medical care and services. She coordinates and helped design a weekly drop in service providing free food, clothing and linkages to services for the extremely poor. Wanda has been recognized for her dedication, receiving Burnaby Local Hero Award for her work on homelessness (2007) and is a recipient of the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal.