Constance Barnes
Constance Barnes is an elected Vancouver Park Board commissioner in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and operations manager of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.[1][2] She was elected in 2008 as a member of the Vision Vancouver slate.
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[edit] Background
Barnes is the daughter of the late Emery Barnes, who was one of the first two black politicians elected to a legislative office in British Columbia, and Laverne Barnes, Canada’s first female sport commentator.[3] She grew up in Port Moody, British Columbia.[2]
[edit] Acting career
Barnes started acting at age 12 and prior to raising her children appeared with the CBC and local television stations.[3] She went on to numerous roles in shows such as the X Files, Poltergeist, and 21 Jump Street.[4]
[edit] Emery Barnes Park
Barnes was instrumental in the naming of Emery Barnes Park, in honour of her father.[5]
[edit] 1976 Car accident
There was a civil judgment against Barnes and her father as a result of an accident in 1976 where she was driving on Vancouver Island.[6] A passenger in the car was left an incomplete quadriplegic.[6] The judgment was for $445,000.[6] Barnes was 17 at the time of the accident.[1]
[edit] 2009 Drunk driving incident
On June 10, 2009 during a press conference at SFU Harbour Centre, Barnes admitted that driving under the influence of alcohol was "a really stupid mistake."[7] In a press release issued on June 10, 2009 Barnes stated, "I have made a serious mistake. On May 23, 2009 I was charged with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. I was returning home from an afternoon at Iona Beach in Richmond and was arrested and charged by the Vancouver Police Department around 11pm. I do not intend to challenge this charge. The police arrested me outside of a home in South Vancouver where I had fallen asleep at the wheel and hit a residential home. No-one was injured in this incident, however there was damage to the property. I take full responsibility for my actions and acknowledge my lack of judgment."[8][9] Barnes appeared in court on September 24, 2009 and pleaded guilty. She had her drivers license suspended for one year, was fined $1000 for driving over the legal limit and $750 for dangerous driving.[10]
After the incident Barnes took a medical leave and got involved with Alcoholics Anonymous,[6]
Barnes enrolled for treatment on Bowen Island at the Orchard Recovery Centre, a residential drug rehabilitation and alcohol addiction treatment centre.[11]
[edit] Family
Barnes is a single mother of two grown children.[12]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Vancouver park board commissioner Constance Barnes on leave after drunk driving", Vancouver Province, June 10, 2009.
- ^ a b "Vancouver park commissioner Constance Barnes sheds tears of joy as Obama inaugurated", Georgia Straight, January 20, 2009.
- ^ a b "Stellar group to gather for celebrated Women in the Director’s Chair Workshop", Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists Website, Accessed August 28, 2009.
- ^ "Constance Barnes Filmography", IMDB, Accessed August 28, 2009.
- ^ "Barnes park to finally expand", Vancouver Courier, April 18, 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Crash leads to charges", 24 Hours, June 11, 2009.
- ^ "Park board commissioner Constance Barnes calls drunk driving "a really stupid mistake"", Georgia Straight, June 10, 2009.
- ^ "Vancouver park board's Constance Barnes charged with drunk driving", Georgia Straight, June 10, 2009.
- ^ "Parks Commissioner Constance Barnes's written apology", Vancouver Province, June 10, 2009.
- ^ "Vision Vancouver backs second official nailed for drunk-driving", Vancouver Province, September 24, 2009.
- ^ "Did taxpayers pay for Constance Barnes' treatment?", 24 Hours, August 26, 2009.
- ^ "About Constance Barnes - Tradition of Change", ConstanceBarnes.com, Accessed August 27, 2009.
