Born, raised, and first educated in Sault Ste. Marie, Karen McCleave has lived within the uniquely beautiful scenes that inspire so much of the art of Canada. Experiences around Georgian Bay and Haliburton have further developed her appreciation of the natural brilliance of our landscape.

After receiving her law degree from the University of Windsor, she dedicated herself to public service. Joining the Crown Attorney’s Office, Karen prosecuted criminal cases on behalf of the community, primarily in York Region, Dufferin, and Simcoe Counties. She handled a varied caseload, including domestic and sexual assault, child abuse, complex fraud, and homicide. She had carriage of many high-profile and sensitive matters, such as those involving victims with intellectual and physical challenges. Karen was the Crown representative on stakeholder committees, including regional child abuse protocols and community partnering.

During her career, Karen was honoured with the Doug Lucas Award for Excellence in the Pursuit of Justice through Science and two Ontario Excelsior Awards for Outstanding Achievement.

Combining her dedication to educating others with public speaking, she taught Crown colleagues, municipal, provincial, and military police, provincial prosecutors, paralegals and community organizations throughout Ontario. She spoke at numerous conferences.

Upon departing the Crown Attorney’s Office, Karen further served in 2017-2018 as a policy advisor to a Senator in Ottawa.

Her Board involvement has included both professional and public agencies. She was, inter alia, on the Editorial Board for the Ontario Crown Attorneys Newsletter and the Board of Directors of Blue Hills (now York Hills) Child and Family Centre, a youth and family mental health agency. Through these and other experiences, Karen developed experience in governance, by-laws and policies concerning not-for-profit agencies.

Karen has fundraised to support local, Canadian, and international charities. She has also volunteered for the Salvation Army, the Courthouse Food Bank Drive, and the Simcoe County High School Mock Trial program.

Karen enjoys art exhibitions and tours, standardbred and thoroughbred horse-racing, her book club, travelling, and hiking.