Karen Renkema-Millar is Ontario Vice President of the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA), the voice of progressive unionized employers in Canada’s construction industry whose member companies employ more than 25,000 skilled construction workers across Canada. PCA provides advocacy, labour-management advice, networking opportunities, and organizational services to its members.
Karen has spent more than 15 years advocating for employers in the construction industry on issues ranging from skills training and labour force development to procurement, labour relations, and health & safety. She served as an inaugural member of then-Minister Chris Bentley’s Apprenticeship Committee in 2007, an advisor on Buildforce Canada stakeholder committees, and Chair of the Ontario Skilled Trades Alliance (OSTA), an association made up of 37 organizations – including the Ontario General Contractors Association, Ontario Home Builders’ Association, Ontario Hair Stylists Association, and Trillium Automobile Dealers Association – who employ over 100,000 skilled tradespeople.
Karen has also worked with the Council of Ontario Construction Associations and the Ontario Road Builders’ Association. Throughout her career, she has been a passionate advocate for advancing careers in the skilled trades. She also spends time in her local community, volunteering on school and community initiatives.
Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts from Calvin University.