May 10, 2017
Councillor Charlayne Joe
Peace and Conflict Speakers Series - The Coalition to End Homelessness

Charlayne Thornton-Joe is a third generation Victorian. She attended University of Victoria where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Pacific and Asian Studies. Before being elected to Council, she was employed in the hospitality industry since 1979.

Charlayne has a "passion for serving people" and has been active in the community by volunteering as a Board Member for the Victoria Women's Transition House, served as President for three years on the Board of the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, was Interim Executive Director in 2001 for the Lion's Society for Children with Disabilities, and with her husband Phil, co-chaired Vancouver Island's 24 Hour Relay for three years.

Charlayne has also served the Chinese community in various roles. She was Director of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, and has also been a member of the Victoria Chinatown Lioness Club since 1991, serving four terms as President.

For her many years of volunteering, Charlayne was the recipient of the Honourary Citizen of Victoria in 2001, was recognized with a YM-YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, a Lion's International Brian Stevenson Service Award, and a Zonta Woman of the Year Award.

Since joining Council in 2002, she has been Council liaison to the neighbourhoods of Downtown and Harris Green, has been liaison to Tourism, Heritage and Deputy to Planning. She was the Chair of the steering committee for the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness, Addictions and Homelessness, and is currently a member of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. In 2004, she, along with Constable Rick Anthony, put together an idea and instigated the first Emergency Cold Weather Shelter which today is known as the Extreme Weather Protocol.