29 Facts About Barry Penner

Barry Penner, was born on January 9,1966 and is a Canadian lawyer and former politician in the province of British Columbia.

Barry Penner served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, representing the riding of Chilliwack from 1996 to 2001, Chilliwack-Kent from 2001 to 2009, and Chilliwack-Hope from 2009 to 2012.

Barry Penner attended the Fraser Valley College for two years, graduating with a diploma in 1986; he was named one of the school's "Top 40" alumni in 2014.

Barry Penner received a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby in 1989, and was selected for that year's British Columbia Legislative Internship Program.

Barry Penner graduated with a law degree in 1992, and went on to practise in Chilliwack.

Barry Penner won the BC Liberal nomination to contest the riding of Chilliwack in the 1996 provincial election, over the incumbent Bob Chisholm.

Barry Penner was elected the riding's MLA, and was re-elected in 2001 and 2005 in the riding of Chilliwack-Kent with some of the highest margins of victory in the province.

Barry Penner introduced a motion in the legislature calling on the provincial government to establish an Amber alert system in BC to assist police in safely returning abducted children to their parents.

Barry Penner became known as an advocate for small-hydro, wind power and other alternative energy sources after helping lead unprecedented community opposition in the Fraser Valley to the proposed Sumas Energy 2 power project.

Barry Penner led protests against the New Democratic Party Government's decision in 1997 to close the Chilliwack Courthouse.

Barry Penner launched a successful effort to raise awareness of a World War I hero, James Richardson, VC who is the only resident of Chilliwack to have been awarded the Victoria Cross.

Barry Penner worked with the Minister of Transportation to have the first cable barrier on a major highway in British Columbia installed in the constituency he represented.

Barry Penner was appointed by Premier Gordon Campbell to represent BC at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region in June 2001, and served as the organization's president from 2002 to 2003.

Barry Penner chaired the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources, and was a member of the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations.

Barry Penner was named parliamentary secretary to government house leader Gary Collins in February 2004, and in that capacity served as deputy house leader.

In June 2007, Barry Penner announced he would continue working as a Minister while receiving treatment for leiomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer.

Barry Penner served as Minister responsible for Water Stewardship and Sustainable Communities from 2005 to 2008, and Minister Responsible for Climate Action from January to June 2009.

Barry Penner stayed on as environment minister after winning re-election in 2009, until being named Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation in October 2010.

Barry Penner additionally assumed the duties of Attorney General in December 2010 to replace Mike de Jong, who resigned the post to contest the Liberal Party leadership.

Barry Penner remained as Attorney General after Christy Clark was sworn in as premier in March 2011, but was replaced in the aboriginal portfolio by Mary Polak.

Barry Penner remained as the MLA for Chilliwack-Hope and said he intended to remain as such until the next election.

Barry Penner officially resigned his legislative seat on January 9,2012.

Barry Penner was appointed by the BC Liberal provincial government as chair of the board of directors of Insurance Corporation of British Columbia as of March 31,2016.

Barry Penner served in that position until July 19,2017, when the BC Liberals were replaced by an NDP administration.

Barry Penner was appointed Chair of the Energy Futures Institute in 2023.

Barry Penner is past arbiter for the New West Partnership Trade Agreement between British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

In 2021, Barry Penner was recognized as one of the top 500 most influential business leaders in British Columbia by Business in Vancouver magazine.

Mr Barry Penner has two daughters, Fintry, named after a provincial park on Okanagan Lake and Atlin, named after Atlin Provincial Park in northern British Columbia and that includes Atlin Lake, the largest natural lake in the province.

In May 2014, Barry Penner moved to Myanmar with his family to work for a law firm assisting with inbound investment, particularly in telecommunications and energy.