Draft:Colleen James
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Colleen James | |
|---|---|
| Regional Councillor, Waterloo Region | |
| Assumed office November 2022 | |
| Constituency | Kitchener |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kitchener, Ontario, Canada |
| Spouse | Daren James |
| Children | 1 |
| Occupation | Politician, consultant, educator |
Colleen James is a Canadian municipal politician and consultant serving as a Regional Councillor in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, representing Kitchener, Ontario since 2022.[1]
She was elected in the 2022 municipal election and, according to the Waterloo Region Record, is the first Black woman elected to Waterloo Region Council.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]James was born and raised in Kitchener, Ontario, and is of Caribbean heritage.[3]
She earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and later completed a master's degree in leadership, higher, and adult education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.[1]
Career
[edit]Municipal government
[edit]Before elected office, James worked in municipal government for more than 15 years.[1]
She was elected to the Regional Council in 2022.[1]
As a councillor, she has served on several committees, including administration and finance, audit, budget, and community and health services. She also serves as Chair of the Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee and sits on the Grand River Conservation Authority.[1]
Her work includes regional policy related to infrastructure, sustainability, and community services.[1]
According to CBC News, James introduced a motion related to public transit routes aimed at improving service access and connectivity in Waterloo Region.[4]
In reporting by the Waterloo Region Record, she also advocated for extending workplace harassment policies to apply to municipal councillors.[5]
Professional work
[edit]In 2025, she was appointed Executive in Residence with Capacity Canada.[6]
Former professor and program coordinator in the School of Business at Conestoga College, Doon Campus.
James is the founder of Divonify, an equity and inclusion consulting firm established in 2015.[7]
Her consulting work focuses on leadership development, equity strategy, and organizational change.[7]
Community involvement
[edit]James has held roles in community organizations, including serving as a board director with Reception House and as an advisory board member with the ForUsGirls Foundation.[8]
She has participated in national forums on Black political leadership, including a summit broadcast by CPAC.[9]
She has also contributed to public discussions on equity, including a column in the Waterloo Chronicle.[10]
Civic initiatives
[edit]James is the founder of Democracy in Action Waterloo Region.[11]
Political involvement
[edit]James was nominated as a candidate for the Ontario Liberal Party in the Kitchener Centre riding.[12]
Recognition
[edit]In 2020, James was named one of Canada's Top 100 Black Women to Watch, as reported by CBC News.[3]
Personal life
[edit]James resides in Kitchener, Ontario, with her husband and daughter.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Councillor Colleen James". Region of Waterloo. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Colleen James is the first Black woman elected to regional council". Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- 1 2 "Kitchener educator named among Canada's Top 100 Black Women to Watch". CBC News. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Colleen James motion to introduce Routes 91 and 92". CBC News. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Workplace harassment policies should apply to municipal councillors". Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Welcoming Colleen James to Capacity Canada". Capacity Canada. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- 1 2 "Colleen James profile". AMCTO. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ↑ "ForUsGirls Foundation". ForUsGirls. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Black Parliamentarians Review Summit". CPAC. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Your voice against racism: Colleen James". Waterloo Chronicle. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ↑ "In Conversation with Colleen James". CityNews Kitchener. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Colleen James nominated as Ontario Liberal candidate". Ontario Liberal Party. Retrieved April 6, 2026.