London Police Service Board member update
New London Police Services Board Member, Ms. Megan Walker
The London Police Services Board (LPSB) is pleased to announce that Ms. Megan Walker has been appointed by The Honourable Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General of Ontario, for a 2 month term, January 1 to February 28, 2022, pending processing of her Order in Council for a 3 year appointment to the Board. Ms. Walker will take her LPSB Oath of Office January 4, 2022.
Megan Walker has been involved in the London community since early 1990 when she worked with the Old East Community Association to save the Carson Library from closing. She started a literacy program at Carson and worked with the community to raise funds for a children’s drop-in program at the Boyle Community Centre.
Ms. Walker was elected to London City Council in 1994 and served Ward 6 for two terms. She was an active member of Council, as well as the Community and Protective Services Committee, Environment and Transportation Committee, Audit Committee, Committee of Adjustment, Crime Prevention Advisory Committee, the London Public Library Board, Middlesex-London Housing Authority, Middlesex-London Board of Health, London Economic Development Committee, Comprehensive Policy Committee, and the Social Planning Committee. During her time on Council, Megan and her colleague Susan Eagle issued London’s First Gay Pride Proclamation on the steps of City Hall.
Megan worked as the Executive Director of the London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC) 1997 to 2021 where she grew the agency from providing service to 200 women per year to providing 9,000 women and girls with immediate access to service.
Ms. Walker has been invited to speak at conferences around the world including Ukraine, Guyana, Sweden, the UK, and attended the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. She has been consulted by all levels of government and has appeared as an expert witness before Provincial, Parliamentary and Senate Committees on legislative reform, victims’ rights, sex trafficking, sexual violence, and sexual harassment. She has a keen interest in the criminal justice system and served as a founding member of the Domestic Violence Advisory Committee.
Megan is a recipient of the Governor General’s 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (1992) and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012). She also received the Joy Smith Foundation Award for Courage (2017).
Megan retired from LAWC on August 31, 2021 to pursue other interests, including continuing to learn French, a project previously put on hold as a result of her workload.
On behalf of the Board, Chair Susan Toth said, “The London Police Services Board welcomes Ms. Walker. She has long been a vocal advocate for women. We know that she will bring her experience, passion and strong voice to the Board.”
Megan is a proud graduate of the London Police Citizen’s Academy. Her appointment to the London Police Services Board follows Christine Wellenreiter’s December 31, 2021 resignation from the Board to accept another provincial board appointment.
London Police Services Board:
Ms. Susan Toth, Interim Chair
Councillor Jesse Helmer, Interim Vice Chair
Councillor Maureen Cassidy, Member
Mr. Ali Chahbar, Member
Mayor Ed Holder, Member
Mr. Jeffery Lang, Member
Ms. Megan Walker, Member
For additional information, contact Jennifer Foster, Administrator, London Police Services Board at lpsb@londonpolice.ca
For media inquiries, contact:
Cst. Howell-Harries
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W. 519-661-5410
C. 519-933-0359
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