Karen’ Kippy’ Taylor recognized for life-long work in helping others and her community
The provincial government announced the 2024 Order of New Brunswick recipients on New Brunswick Day, Aug. 5, and a Carleton County woman is on the list.
The award honours current or former long-time residents of New Brunswick who have demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field and have made outstanding contributions to the social, cultural, or economic well-being of New Brunswick and its residents.
The government news release noted that Karen Taylor is a lifelong learner with strong values and a deep love for New Brunswick.
Currently the chair of Service New Brunswick, she has chaired and been a member of numerous volunteer boards throughout her professional life.
While director of education at the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission from 1989 to 2001, her keen sense of leadership enabled her to play a significant role in developing public policy throughout the province, promoting inclusion and non-discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.
She has also been a key advisor in the struggle for equality for First Nations women and men. In particular, she supported bringing Sandra Lovelace’s case before the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which led to Parliament repealing a discriminatory section of the Indian Act.
Taylor has been a member of the Faculty of Management Advisory Board at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) since 2007, where she has been a champion of fairness, equality and respect. While serving as a member and president of the Alumnae Executive Council of UNB, she was committed to encouraging young women through networking opportunities, supporting participation in leadership roles, identifying unmet needs of female students, and working towards meeting those needs. She has also undertaken innovative volunteer work, such as implementing a mock interview program for students.
During her time with the UNB board of governors from 2012 to 2016, she offered a woman’s perspective, good governance and an appreciation for passionate young minds.
When the New Brunswick Community College became a Crown corporation, Taylor served on its inaugural board of governors from 2010 to 2015.
When she retired, she returned to her hometown of Woodstock and established her own consulting practice, working with organizations such as NB Power and the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. In addition to being the first woman president of Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and a leader of the 2nd Woodstock Girl Guides unit, she continues to help local volunteer organizations improve their board governance and fundraising capacity, just as she once did with the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation.
In 2023, she co-authored a book, Celebrating the Legacy of Golf and Curling in Woodstock, New Brunswick: The First 70 Years, with the proceeds donated to the Woodstock Golf and Curling Club’s Legacy Fund. She is also president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Carleton-York, the Kings Landing Foundation, and a member of the Andrew and Laura McCain Art Gallery.
She has been recognized for her expertise in voluntary leadership and contributions to the community with the Celebration of Women Millennium Project Award, the Governor General’s Commemorative Medal, the Silver Keystone Award, and the 2023 Citizen Recognition Award from the Town of Woodstock.
Taylor is receiving recognition from the Order of New Brunswick for her lifelong dedication to addressing injustice, improving others’ lives, and supporting ventures that improve her community, province, and country.
Other recipients include Kassim Doumbia, from Shippagan, who was awarded the honour for promoting the inclusion of immigrants, his volunteer activities, his dedication to economic growth and cultural and community vitality, and his efforts to increase community engagement among youth.
Carmen Gibbs is from Grand-Bouctouche (district of Saint-Thomas de Kent) and is being recognized for her deep sense of commitment and exceptional accomplishments, her collaborative spirit, and her profound desire to equip community organizations across New Brunswick to work toward building a more open, vibrant and just society.
John Leroux of Fredericton is receiving the award for his outstanding vision, dedication, and commitment to the future of the province’s architecture and the protection of historic buildings, as well as for his passion for building an improved quality of life for generations to come.
Robert K. Irving of Moncton is being honoured for his extensive community involvement, generosity, and exceptional altruism towards advancing his community and province.
“It is always a great honour to announce the names of the recipients of our province’s highest civilian honour,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “These people have many talents, tremendous perseverance and resilience, and they all want to improve the quality of life in their communities by pushing back barriers in their own way. I congratulate these five individuals who will be added to the list of New Brunswick’s great builders.”
