MLA Carole James Member for Victoria-Beacon Hill

Thank You Lord for Carole James and her untiring commitment to her constituents of Victoria-Beacon Hill. We pray blessings upon her today as she makes important decisions in her role as Leader of the Opposition. Please give her your strength, encouragement and help today in discerning clearly what is to be top priority for this day.

Carole James was elected Leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party on November 23, 2003.

She was elected to the Greater Victoria School Board from 1990 to 2001, including seven terms as chair. She also served at the national level as Vice-President of the Canadian School Boards Association.

In addition to serving a two-year term as the Director of Child Care Policy for the government of British Columbia, she has participated on the Greater Victoria Region Social Planning Council, the City of Victoria Parks and Recreation Committee, and the Task Force on Violence Prevention.

In recognition of her work in the area of co-operative pre-schools, she was named an Honorary Life Member of the Vancouver Island Co-operative Pre-School Association.

In 2001, Carole moved to Prince George to serve as the Director of Child and Family Services for Carrier Sekani Family Services. As part of her management responsibilities, she coordinated the planning for regionalization of child and family services from the Ministry of Children and Families to an Aboriginal Authority. In July 2003, just prior to becoming Leader of the B.C. NDP, she became Coordinator with the Northern Aboriginal Authority for Families.

In May 2005, Carole was elected as MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill, and became the Leader of B.C.'s Official Opposition. She was re-elected as MLA on May 12, 2009.

Carole is the mother of two children, Alison and Evan. She was also a foster parent for 20 years, caring for children and adults with special needs.