Jan's Bio

Jan Harder has served the residents of Barrhaven as their municipal representative for over 14 years. A recognized leader on council who has been proud to call Barrhaven home for over 25 years, Jan is always accessible to residents, taking prompt action on concerns raised by her constituents. She has become known as a community builder and champion and has helped Barrhaven grow by working with local and national business leaders as well as City staff to secure the necessary infrastructure to support such growth. Jan believes the best way to build Barrhaven is to balance growth while maintaining a high quality of life – an approach that has made this community one of the most desirable places in Ottawa to live, work and play.

Prior to being elected in 1997 to the former City of Nepean council, Jan was a successful business professional. Jan often states that for the majority of her life she has been, and continues to be, employed in the customer service industry.

Jan’s current term on council includes being re-appointed as chair of the Ottawa Public Library; a director of the Urban Library Council of North America; vice-chair of the city’s Planning Committee, member of the Ottawa Police Services Board and a member of the new Ottawa Public Board of Health.

During her tenure on Ottawa council Jan has served in a number of roles on various committees and boards including acting as: vice-chair of the Emergency Protective Services Committee; vice-chair of the Audit, Budget and Finance committee; chair of the Ottawa Community Land Development Corporation; director of Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc; a former director of the Canadian Library Association; former president of the Canadian Library Trustees Association; past-chair of Energy Ottawa; past director on the Bruyere and the Almonte Hospital Boards and Carleton Lodge long term care facility; chair of Plasco's public advisory committee; member of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario's Task Force on Long Term Care; and member of the Planning and Environment, Transit and Transportation committees.

Jan continues to work with numerous Barrhaven community groups and citywide organizations to raise money and awareness for their causes. Jan's annual golf tournament has raised over $200,000 for the Queensway Carleton Hospital during its first five years and almost $90,000 for the Ottawa Public Library during its past two years alone. Jan was also happy to lend her name to raise $55,000 for the South Nepean Autism Centre in support of families throughout the community. Jan is also proud to be a founding member of Barrhaven’s SEVin, a new charity, raising money annually for important equipment for our Queensway Carleton Hospital.

Jan is married to Larry, has five daughters and has been blessed with six grandchildren so far.