Mr. Harcourt served as Premier of British Columbia from 1991 to 1996 and City Councillor from 1972 to 1980; prior to that he was mayor of Vancouver from 1981 to 1986. Mr. Harcourt helped the province earn its reputation as one of the most livable places in the world. After stepping down from politics, he was appointed by the Prime Minister to serve as a member of the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy (1996-2004). There, Mr. Harcourt served on the Executive Committee and Chaired the Urban Sustainability Program. He was also a federally appointed BC Treaty Commissioner 2003-2007 and in 2003 was appointed Chair of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee for Cities and Communities mandated to examine the future of Canada’s cities and communities.

Mr. Harcourt was the lead faculty of United Way’s Public Policy Institute (2009-2021) and was on the Advisory Board of Canada’s ECOFISCAL Commission. As well, he Chaired Age-Well to improve the quality of life for aging Canadians. He currently dedicates his time to numerous initiatives such as sustainability education, Aboriginal economic development, and promoting healthy living. He co-chairs Dogwood 25, a collaborative that supports the academic success of Aboriginal students.