Media Contacts

Greig Bethel

Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261

Backgrounders

Barry Penner

Barry Penner, QC, was raised in Chilliwack. He studied political science and economics at Simon Fraser University to earn his bachelor of arts degree. He later earned his law degree from the University of Victoria.

A former park ranger, wildfire fighter and sawmill worker, Penner also worked as a B.C. legislative intern in Victoria. In 1991, he worked for an International law firm in Bangkok, Thailand and then later practised law in Chilliwack until his election to the B.C. legislature in 1996.

Penner served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Chilliwack-Hope for 16 years. He also served as Attorney General of British Columbia, Minister of Environment and Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.

He left politics in 2012 and joined Davis LLP (now DLA Piper (Canada)), a national law firm, where he focused on environmental, energy and First Nations issues. He currently operates a legal and public affairs advisory practice.