Best known as the groundbreaking screenwriter of the original cult horror film, Ginger Snaps, and the true legal saga The Many Trials of One Jane Doe — starring past Crystal Award winner Wendy Crewson— Karen has also written for and co-executive produced critically acclaimed series such as Orphan Black, Queer as Folk, The Listener, and Flashpoint.

Karen is also rightfully known for her deep commitment to mentoring the next generation of Canadian storytellers and creating inclusive spaces for writers and other creatives to feel safe, supported and heard.

This year, Karen celebrates the 10th anniversary of ink canada, a virtual networking space she created for “Canadian Screenwriters and their sketchy friends”. Founded in 2007, ink canada has grown as a digital hub for over 5000 creatives internationally. Through both the online platform and in-person ink drinks gatherings in Toronto, Karen nurtures emerging and underrepresented and marginalized writers in the industry. 

For the 2017 Writers Guild of Canada Awards, ink canada members gave away 23 tickets to women of colour, all of whom were personally greeted at the door by Karen—because that is what she does so well; connecting people and building a supportive community. Karen’s dedication to fair representations of gender, gender equity, racial and cultural diversity in entertainment continues, onscreen and off.