Paul Harris Biography
Paul Harris is one of Central Alberta’s most influential and
innovative personalities. Paul is a successful business owner,
community leader, social entrepreneur, author, housing
developer, and visionary. His ability to think both critically and
creatively has extended its reach beyond his own endeavours
to foster a culture of innovation and excellence in the non­profit
and arts communities, and in Red Deer. His reflexive practice
helps him invite organizations, local government, and
individuals to consider their purpose and their possibilities.
After being asked a number of times by citizens, in 2010 Paul ran for and was elected to Red
Deer City Council. Subsequently he was elected to serve as a board member for the Federation
of Canadian Municipalities, a national organization which represents approximately 95% of
Canadian municipalities. FCM is influential in setting Canadian policy and sharing effective
practice among municipalities in Canada and internationally.
As part of his efforts to revitalize downtown Red Deer and contribute to cultural life Paul
developed and now operates a number of businesses.
Sunworks, practitioners of good taste, is a boutique specializing in lifestyle products, from books
to music, interior and garden furnishings to the culinary arts; it’s been serving the hip and trendy
since 1995. It’s recently expanded to include The Coconut Room, a cafe serving homemade
baking, Maui coffee, and healthy and hearty food. Its design encourages community
conversation, the sharing of culture, philosophy and great ideas — it’s a modern day Parisian
salon.
Attached to the space is the Harris­Warke Gallery which he and his partner established 10 years
ago to fill the growing need of the arts community for uninhibited, free, visual arts space.
In addition to the Harris­Warke Gallery emerging artists and new business owners have been
encouraged and assisted through space and partnership within Sunworks’ buildings. This has
had a transformational effect on the main street in Red Deer. The street is now considered the
informal cultural centre of the community.
Paul recently embarked on the development of downtown living and small business spaces
through innovative housing projects and the restoration of underutilized buildings in the heart of
Red Deer. The philosophy of these projects is to balance the needs of the community, with
those of individuals, and the earth.
Once completed these spaces become an exemplar of sustainable multi­family living that
enhances the streetscape through small business, public art and functional design.
Paul’s belief in the symbiotic relationships between business, community and the environment
has led him to participate in several community initiatives which focus on quality of life. He has
been active on the board of the Red Deer and District Community Foundation for seven years
and served as Chair. He previously served as Chair of the Cultural Development Association of
Red Deer, President of the Downtown Business Association, and a member of the Mayor’s Task
Force to End Homelessness.
What is important to Paul now is to continue to develop his reflexive practice through networks in
Canada and in Europe. He is particularly interested in the exploration of organizational purpose,
and the careful crafting of questions that both invite us into a better future and give us energy to
move into that future.
Paul recently led the community inquiry which culminated in the Red Deer Community Culture
Vision and Plan for Action 2008. This work was adopted as one of four documents that guides
the City of Red Deer’s work in the urban landscape.
He was lead facilitator in Envision Innisfail that helped that community explore its identity and
future direction during a period that called for transformation as the downtown was dying and the
suburbs growing.
As a City Councillor, Paul was deeply involved in the City’s Strategic Direction which has
resulted a in dramatic shift in the community toward healthy neighbourhood design and
sustainable practices. It’s helped shape a conversation about the human purpose of
municipalities and the role of inclusive governance.
Paul is currently writing about reflexive practice in community change and the complex issues
that interconnect all of us. His belief is that community dialogue can be positive and visionary
and, if encouraged, enables people to co­create beautifully enriching places for community to
flourish.
In 2005 Paul was honoured with both the Mayor’s Recognition Award and the Alberta Centennial
Medal for his outstanding leadership in, and contribution to, his community.
Paul Harris - curriculum vitae
Part futurist, part philosopher, part pragmatist. I'm a creative
human with deep social and entrepreneurial roots. Always
trying to use my superpowers for good. My beliefs are
rooted in compassion and justice. Through reflexive practice
I try to gently hold a space open for careful inquiry about the
meaning we create in the space among ourselves — how
language, thought and spirit shape our present, give
movement toward our future, and colour our past. Life is
good — travelling companions are essential. I believe that
the universe invites and unfolds at the same time. To
embrace uncertainty and to be profoundly curious helps me
be present and hopeful.
mobile: 403­302­3580
fax: 403­341­5754
email: [email protected]
4924 Ross Street,
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
T4N 1X7
Continual Learning
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Attractor, Summer Institute, Berlin, Germany (2013)
ConversationFest, Houston, Texas (2013)
Attractor, Summer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark (2012)
Livable Cities, Portland, USA (2012)
Attractor, Summer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark (2011)
Between a Rock and a Heart Place, Corporate Community, Dublin, Ireland (2010)
Inspired Leadership, Schmacher College, Totnes, England (2008)
Appreciative Inquiry, Carmel, CA (2007)
Creative Spaces and Places 2, Toronto, Canada (2005)
Creative Spaces and Places, Toronto, Canada (2003)
Creative City Network, St John’s Newfoundland, Canada (2003)
Creative City Network, Vancouver, Canada (2002)
University Transfer Studies Associate Degree, Red Deer College (1998)
Computer Systems Technology Associate Degree, Red Deer College (1998)
Under graduate course work, General Studies, Communications, University of Calgary
(1989)
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French Immersion, Montreal (1984)
Undergraduate course work, ESL methodology, Linguistics, French, Japanese, Utah
(1983)
Honours
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Alberta Centennial Medal for Leadership
Mayor’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Leadership in Culture and the Arts
Present Public & Community Service
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City of Red Deer, City Councillor (2010­present)
Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Board Member (2011­present)
Governance & Policy Committee (current)
Municipal Planning Commission (current)
Parkland Airshed Management Zone (current)
Audit Committee (current)
Emergency Management Committee (current)
Red Deer Museum Society, Board Member (2012­ present)
Red Deer Public Library, Board Member (2010 ­ 2012)
Red Deer and District Community Foundation, Chair (2002­2010)
Red Deer Downtown Business Association, Chair (2008)
Chairperson of Cultural Development Association of Red Deer (2001 ­ 2008)
Culture Master Plan Steering Committee (2001), Board Member
Writer’s Guild of Alberta, Treasurer (1995­1998)
The Museum Shop, Treasurer/Buyer(1993­1996)
Alberta Society of Archivists, Former Member
Canadian Information Processing Society, Former member
Former member of the TESOL organization (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other
Languages)
Current Occupation
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City of Red Deer, City Councillor (2010­present)
Community Facilitator (2007 ­ present)
Retail Principal ­ Sunworks (1995 ­ present)
Commercial & Residential Property Development (1995 ­ present)
Business & Professional Record
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Community Facilitator (reflexive and appreciative practice)
○ City of Red Deer, Strategic Direction (2011)
○ Envision Innisfail (2010)
○ Red Deer Community Culture Vision and Plan for Action (2008)
Entrepreneur
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Sunworks Home and Garden Inc. (1995 ­ Present) Sunworks is a lifestyle shop
including a cafe called The Coconut Room. It’s home to books, music, garden
statuary, kitchen products, home decor, and services in landscape, interior
design and the culinary arts.
○ Metropolitan Hardware ­ Urban Living (current)
○ Swerve Living, Community Friendly, People Friendly, Earth Friendly ­ Condos
○ Gestalt Computing Inc. (January 1996 ­ 2009)
○ Deluxe Lounge (March 2002 ­ April 2004)
Technical Writer/Editor
Systems Analyst III, Nova Chemicals
Instructor, Red Deer College, Business, Programming and Computer Application
Computer Support analyst/Technician, Red Deer College
Project Coordinator/Administrator, Encor Energy, Esso Resources, Trans­Canada
Pipeline
Publicist, Ellis Bird Farm
Management, Dylex
Green Dolphin Street, General Manager
Bragg Creek Steak Pit, General Manager
Trivia
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Partner: Terry Warke
Three cats: Lupin, Montana, Draba
Place of birth: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Favourite quote: ‘Above all else be kind.’
Painter
Tattoo: not yet.
Avatar: a handsome policeman with expansive, beautiful white wings.