For over 35 years, Jane Hurtig has been supporting community and political participation through local, provincial, national and international initiatives. She calls upon her knowledge of government, civil society, and media to diagnose problems and collaboratively develop solutions. Jane developed her political skills in election campaign offices across Canada and worked as a political advisor in the British Columbia (BC) Legislature and on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. While working for the National Democratic Institute from 2007 – 2016, she adapted her government, elections and political party knowledge to country-specific contexts in the Middle East, North African and the Caribbean. Programming included civil society coalition building, women’s political participation, youth leadership development and citizen engagement by political parties, elected representatives and institutions.

After ten years outside of Canada, Jane returned to BC in 2016 and launched Hurtig Consulting, taking on international and Canadian contracts. In 2020 she shifted focus to leading new province-wide, anti-racism initiatives funded by the Government of BC. This work included collaboration to develop resources and strategies to support a network of over 30 organizations, a seven-month training of community anti-racism trainers and a rural BC workplace equity pilot program. Through this work, Jane gained a deeper understanding of the historical and present day impact of colonialism in Canada and elsewhere around the world. She is committed to life-long learning and collaboration with others who are seeking a more equitable, just world.

Jane’s community volunteer activities includes membership on the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee, Board Member and Fundraising Committee Chair for the James Bay Community Project and Board Member for Planned Parenthood BC and the Victoria Sexual Health Society.