Bill Karsten was elected to Halifax Regional Council in 2004 to represent District 7, Portland-East Woodlawn. He was elected by acclamation in 2008, and was re-elected in 2012 to represent the residents of the new District 3, Dartmouth South-Eastern Passage.
Councillor Karsten was elected again by acclamation in 2016. The District boundaries include the areas of Portland Estates, Portland Hills, Russell Lake West, portions of East Woodlawn, Eastern Passage, Cow Bay, Shearwater and South Woodside.
Born in Holland and immigrating to Canada as a young boy, Bill has lived in Dartmouth for 40 years with his wife Muriel and is the proud father and grandfather of his two daughters and three granddaughters.
He has a thirty-year business background in Sales, Marketing and Management. Prior to his years as a Municipal Councillor, he spent twenty-two years as District Manager (Atlantic Region) for Curtis Industries of Canada Ltd.
A dedicated volunteer, over the years Bill always sought ways to give back to his community which has given him a solid platform for his work in Public Service.
In June 2016, Bill was elected by his peers to the position of 3rd Vice President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and is currently serving as FCM’s 1st Vice President.
Councillor Karsten is the Chair of the Budget Standing Committee and a member of both the Appeals Committee and the Harbour East Marine Drive Community Council. He has also served his Municipality as Deputy Mayor, and as a member of the Board of Police Commissioners, the Board of Halifax Harbour Bridges and as a Commissioner on the Board of Halifax Water.
While Councillor Karsten is dedicated to delivering all the Municipality’s key priorities, he is especially passionate about developing a sound asset management program to ensure that infrastructure is left in excellent condition for the next generation, environmental sustainability, and the fiscal well-being of the Municipality.
For him it’s all about the future!