Bevilacqua, who gave up his parliamentary seat after two decades to dive into Vaughan’s mayoral race late last August, is confident that his transition process, along with a mostly fresh-faced council, will be free of obstacles. “I am pretty certain it will be smooth, I’m sure people will cooperate and be very respectful with each other because there is no other way of doing it,” he says. He also crushes the idea of any potential issues of conflict-of-interest – a topic that’s been paramount in Vaughan’s election. “I’ve never had any conflicts of interest, and this is the benefit of a person who’s been in public life for 22 years and has never had conflicts; that tradition will continue in the mayor’s chair.”

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An overwhelming 63.3 per cent of Vaughan residents voted for Bevilacqua’s vision of change and federal experience over Jackson’s efforts to ratify City Hall’s embattled reputation and shine a light on her accomplishments in office. “I have absolutely no regrets. I’ve enjoyed it, I have a lot to look back on, I have a lot of great memories and I move forward and that’s it. It’s very simple,” Jackson told City Life Magazine in an optimistic tone, adding that her bid for re-election came from a desire to let democracy dictate her future. “I ran again for the fact that nobody was going to tell me to go home for the exception of the people.”

Though Jackson could not comment on the charges against her under the Municipal Elections Act from her 2006 campaign, she does say that she wanted to have the opportunity to clear her name before the election. Her trial is not to be held until 2011. Though her next role is undecided, Jackson plans on spending a lot more time with family in the short-term and isn’t discounting a future in politics. “I love politics, it’s in my blood … I still love it because I know that I can still make a difference, and I’m not going to say never.”

TORONTO
Voter turnout was up a monumental 14 per cent in Canada’s largest city where right-wing councilor Rob Ford ran a successful campaign on fiscal responsibility to beat rival candidate and former provincial health minister George Smitherman. With the majority of Ford’s 47 per cent win coming from Toronto’s suburban demographic, the downtown core showed a clear divide from the city’s outskirts. Throughout the race, Ford ran an open door platform that focused less on arts and transportation and more on a repeated catchphrase to “Stop the gravy train” at City Hall.

His plans to abolish the land transfer tax and vehicle registration tax were pledged as top priorities, but how soon residents can expect these tax breaks is still unknown. After repeated attempts to contact Ford via phone and e-mail on the date that he agreed to an interview, he could not be reached. “I’ve obviously got some opinions about his platform,” says former mayor David Miller, “but one of the things about this council is that it’s very, very democratic. There’s lots of members of council who understand that we need to invest in high-priority neighbourhoods, who understand that we need to build public transit, who understand that we have to continue to take active steps to lower our environmental footprint, and I’m sure those kinds of programs will continue.”

Despite speculation of running for a third term, Miller opted out of this year’s municipal election to spend more time with his children. “I grew up without a father, and one of the things I said to myself was, if I have children, I’m going to be a really good dad, and all of a sudden my kids were 14 and 12 and I’d never been home. I felt I was letting them down and myself down,” says Miller emotionally, adding that he’s finally been able to see his son’s hockey games and daughter’s soccer games. “It’s been a really great year for me from that perspective.”

Miller’s new role is already lined up. While he will continue to push for heightened public transit, his next official job will be as an advisor to the World Bank on cities and the environment. As for his political forecast for Toronto’s next four years? “That’s hard to predict. Interesting,” says Miller.

www.city.vaughan.on.ca
www.toronto.ca

“It’s been entertaining, engaging and bewildering. It will be interesting to see if there is a higher turnout in this municipal election,” says Nelson Wiseman, an associate political science professor at the University of Toronto. “What’s gone on is quite unusual, quite out of the ordinary, quite wild in terms of the city and the legal cases and the intensity,” he adds, mentioning that he’s received more calls about Vaughan’s election than any other municipality, including Toronto.

Mayor Linda Jackson – daughter of the late Lorna Jackson – has borne the brunt of most discussions so far. Last year, she was pinned with 68 charges involving election finance irregularities from her 2006 campaign in which she beat incumbent mayor Michael Di Biase by a narrow 90 votes. Some of the charges filed under the Municipal Elections Act allege that Jackson went above her $120,419 campaign expense limit and failed to keep all expense receipts.

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Jackson’s three-week trial won’t be held until January 2011 – which means voters will be heading to the polls with suppositions rather than solidified answers. “This is really an unfortunate and undemocratic situation,” says Robert MacDermid, an associate professor of political science at York University. “It speaks to the lack of seriousness through which these things are handled that it has taken so long for this to come
to trial.”

While Jackson did not respond to e-mails, she discussed her time in office during a campaign kick-off speech on June 3rd. “To say I had a baptism by fire in my first term as Mayor of Vaughan would be putting it lightly, indeed. I have learned a lot since I was elected to council eight years ago and this experience will better position me for our future together,” says the mayor. She also highlights her efforts made to select a spot for the development of a new hospital and the strides that have been taken towards improving city infrastructure, safety and employment. Regarding finances, a posting on her campaign website reads: “The goal is to make the city of Vaughan the standard bearer in Canada for accountability and transparency when it comes to expenses.”

One of the issues that MacDermid has observed through his extensive studies in municipal campaign finance is the extent to which Vaughan’s council and candidates have previously depended on funding from developers and corporations to run their campaigns. MacDermid believes that it would be great to see candidates either turn down such donations, as done in Toronto, or disclose the contributing parties to citizens two weeks prior to election day. “This could help build confidence amongst voters that these candidates are not completely dependent upon sources of funding that have an interest in the decisions that council makes,” he says.

“What’s gone on is quite unusual, quite out of the ordinary, quite wild in terms of the city and the legal cases and the intensity.” – Nelson Wiseman, political science professor at the University of Toronto

While Jackson’s diligence to move past the allegations and spend a second term at City Hall are visible, Wiseman gives us ground to further expand our political thought margins. “Although the scandals, the noise and the mud of the past have hurt [Jackson], one of the advantages of an incumbent is a divided opposition,” he says. With a distinct group of candidates in the running, and speculation as to who might still enter, there’s much to be said about shifting political dynamics.

Former Liberal MPP Mario Racco is one of the five fighting to replace Jackson. “My vision is for a city where council works together, on behalf of their constituents, to make good planning decisions and spend tax dollars wisely,” says Racco. Along with including a developer registry in his policy plan, Racco’s key priorities are transparency, accountability and openness. The latter three appear to be a common denominator amongst most contenders, including local business manager David Natale. “A city of maximum transparency and accountability to the people of Vaughan,” is Natale’s vision. “Vaughan is in desperate need of an image makeover and I honestly believe I can be the catalyst for change, renewal and true leadership,” he adds.

Also riding on a wave of change is business owner Tony Lorini, who hopes to bring a fresh form of leadership to Vaughan’s political roundtable. “I want to symbolize a new generation of competent honest civic politics in Vaughan, where the citizens come first,” he says, adding his intentions to freeze taxes, mayor and councillor salaries for four years if elected. Senior citizen and former mayoral candidate Savino Quatela says he will forfeit his own salary if elected mayor. “I also do not accept any donations as I believe that they influence the actions of the victor following an election,” he says. “A thriving and successful city with its own hospital and free of transportation issues,” is Quatela’s objective.

Former city worker Paul D’Onofrio plans to put 10 per cent of his own salary towards Vaughan’s hospital if elected. “I am very confident that the residents of Vaughan will see a significant improvement within my first year as mayor. So confident that I will provide a guarantee that if the residents are not happy with my performance I will step down,” he says.

“This is really an unfortunate and undemocratic situation.” – Robert MacDermid, political science professor
at York University

An image of an incessantly spinning skip rope looms in the background as the GTA muses about who might be waiting in the wings for the right moment to jump in. Recently retired OPP commissioner Julian Fantino has denied intent to run, while many are still wondering if former mayor Michael Di Biase will give it another go.

Wiseman believes that Vaughan’s Liberal MP, Maurizio Bevilacqua would prove to be a heavyweight contender if he decides to step down from Parliament Hill to run for mayor. “For people, this could be seen as a house cleaning,” says Wiseman. Bevilacqua responded to the speculation in a thought-provoking e-mail regarding his political aspirations. “As a citizen of Vaughan I am convinced that the best is yet to come. We will win more in the future than we have lost in the past. I am committed to being part of this journey that will take this city to places it’s never been before. As for my future, I will continue to serve the people of Vaughan for whom I have a great deal of affection and respect, providing them with the transformational leadership they justly deserve,” he writes.

As one of Canada’s fastest growing municipalities, Vaughan residents have much to consider before casting their ballots on Oct. 25, 2010.
www.vaughanvotes.ca

Top, left: Prospective purchasers and Intercity Realty Inc.’s Lou Grossi, broker, manager; Fernando Giandomenico, sales representative Top, middle: Fortunato Crea, construction manager of Caliber Homes; Colette Pitre, office manager of Caliber Homes; Danny DiMeo, president of Caliber Homes; Lucy Tersigni, administrative assistant of Caliber Homes, and David DiMeo, service manager of Caliber Homes Top, right: Prospective purchasers and Mauro Vani, Intercity Realty broker  Above, left: FROM LEFT: Fortunato Bordin, Sergio DeZen, Danny DiMeo, Mayor Linda Jackson, Vic DeZen, Tony DiMeo
Above, right: Lou Grossi, broker of Intercity Realty; Danny DiMeo, president of Caliber Homes; Alda Neves, director of sales and marketing at Intercity Realty

Top, left: FROM LEFT: MC Barb DiGiulio (The Fan 590), with fundraising committee chair Dino Iannello Top, middle: Board member Anna Martini, with husband and former board member, Umberto Martini Top, right: Parents Denise and Edward Yee Above, left: Gala guests Mayor Linda Jackson with Ital Florist owner Eligio Paris Above, right: Raffaela Bozzato (centre), host of Spinning for Autism, which raised over $18,000 for Shining Through Centre this year

Every time I’m asked where I’m from I hesitate. I pause because I want to avoid the know-it-all smirk. I equivocate because I don’t want to hear the toxic and discriminative comments that fall from ignorant lips. That’s not fair to me or any other resident of Vaughan who lives life according to the law.

I’m not naive, but Vaughan is primarily a city full of heart, ­not villains. So why do cantankerous mediums continue to pollute our clean air with what appears to be anti-Italianism and acrimonious sound bites?

What alarms me the most is that Italians continue to be easy targets because they prefer not to speak out on issues that concern them. And many people take advantage of that.

Yellow journalism was at its best with a recent feature on Vaughan entitled “The Land of the Rich and Infamous,” written by Chris Nuttall-Smith, former food editor and current freelancer for Toronto Life. Residents of Vaughan found this story – which lambastes 905 developers, Mayor Linda Jackson, Vaughan council and the Italian community – plainly distasteful.

I asked Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino how he feels when his culture or the community he lives in is criticized in the media.

Julian Fantino, Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner

“Most of the critics have an agenda of their own, and very often there are issues that are not properly portrayed or reported,” responds Commissioner Fantino. I think it’s disconcerting … very often the facts are not really known. A lot of it is just sensationalism. The screaming headlines … all of that I think is intended to tear down and disenfranchise not only the community, but the people, unfairly. There’s far too much of that I think, going on in Vaughan,” adds Fantino, who has lived in this community since 1981.

With Vaughan’s 2010 municipal election approaching, the Toronto Life feature raked Mayor Linda Jackson and Vaughan council over the coals. Any charges against Mayor Jackson have not yet been proven in a court of law.

Apart from portraying council members as the “enemies” of the mayor, Nuttall-Smith colours his introduction with a harsh physical description. “She’s 50 years old, with dyed blondish hair and skin that’s often the colour of inexpensive bronzer … It’s fair to say that she carries around a few extra pounds.” This passage raises the question as to whether or not a person’s appearance affects his or her ability to govern a city.

In 2000, years before Toronto Mayor David Miller began an exercise regime to shed his extra weight, he was lauded with an A+ and named best councillor by Toronto Life magazine. For Mayor Jackson, presenting her best appearance comes second to executing her duties as mayor, as she displayed during the endless hours she spent helping citizens in the aftermath of the Vaughan tornado. Mayor Jackson recalls: “The skies opened up, and I said, ‘Don’t give me an umbrella! These people’s homes are destroyed, and all I would be worried about would be an umbrella?”

I have resided in this city for a little more than 20 years, during which time my experiences with some of the
non-Vaughan populace have left me speechless. The media have taken every opportunity to splash its headlines about Vaughan with blood. As a result, the excellence of our city has been spoiled by unhealthy, unbalanced reporting, bordering an obsession with politics, lifestyle and Italian developers. Nuttall-Smith’s story begins with: “Everything about Vaughan – its executive estates, its hectares of malls, its politicians’ aspirations – is big and brash … Its expansion has been orchestrated by politically connected developers who know what they want.”

Toronto Life is published by St. Joseph Communications, which was founded in 1956 by Gaetano Gagliano, who is Italian. As Canada’s largest privately owned communications company, St. Joseph’s corporate communications office is located in the core of the Canadian marketplace – Vaughan.

I wanted to ask St. Joseph’s CEO Tony Gagliano how he felt about the way his heritage and the community he works in were criticized by the very brand he runs. After I made several attempts to arrange an interview with him, his executive assistant sent me this message in an e-mail: “As previously mentioned, I am unable to schedule any time for a call due to Tony’s [Gagliano] schedule for the next few weeks. There is no one else that I can recommend to speak on his behalf. We thank you again for this opportunity. Warm regards, Rose Giorgio.”

I tried to reach the five building magnates described in the Toronto Life story under the subheading, “Developer Kings: The builders of Vaughan’s suburbs are also some of the city’s richest residents.” But John DeGasperis (TACC Construction), Vic De Zen (Royal Group Technologies), Carlo Baldassarra (Greenpark Homes) and Rudy Bratty (Remington Group) opted not to comment. Would anyone who was criticized constantly be comfortable speaking to the media?

The only developer who offered his thoughts was Alfredo (Fred) DeGasperis, founder of the nation’s largest construction company, ConDrain.

While I don’t want to discredit the hard work that Nuttall-Smith did on his feature, he said DeGasperis was a resident of Vaughan, but he is not; rather, he lives in the city of Toronto. “I was upset when I heard about [the story]. We’re very proud of what we’ve done for many, many years. We still keep doing it. We build buildings. I know they [the media] make the problem bigger. They always try to throw dirt on a project,” says DeGapseris. He won a lawsuit against The Globe and Mail in 2000, for which the Ontario Court of Appeal ordered the newspaper and a journalist to pay him $780,000, which he then donated to charity.

Under the headshots of most of the developers, their estimated worth is listed. If money talks, why not explain where some of the cash goes? Every year, all these men, including Fred DeGasperis (“worth $1.4 billion”), donate millions to charities and hospitals.

In just one example, Fred DeGasperis and family donated a staggering $7 million to Toronto General Hospital in 2004 to enhance patient care at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.

“We believe we should take care of the sick people. We believe that when you work so hard and you make decent money you should give back to charity. We’re very proud of what we’ve done for hospitals,” says DeGasperis, who, like the other developers, has extended his generosity to Toronto institutions like the Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai, Sunnybrook and Princess Margaret hospitals.

“Our very generous donor community, which includes wonderful supporters from the city of Vaughan, allows us to raise funds to deliver breakthrough research, exemplary teaching and compassionate care at Princess Margaret Hospital, one of the top five cancer research centres in the world,” says Paul Alofs, president and CEO of The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.

Matthew Teitelbaum

TACC Construction recently helped fund the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services at the Markham Stoufville Hospital with a $1 million gift.

Many Italian developers have also supported the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) with $500,000 contributions towards the Galleria Italia, a sculptural promenade across the front of the AGO. “I’m thrilled because I’ve never been with a group of donors who seemed more excited and pleased with the association and with their ability to make a difference,” says Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO’s Michael and Sonja Koerner director and CEO.

Cities in Canada and across the world are troubled by scandals, and whether it’s true or not, a dose of equilibrium and a dash of class go a long way in fair reportage.

“We don’t need any more bad publicity about Vaughan,” says Remo Ferri. “I think there’s a great community up here. It’s a great place, and some of us have worked very hard to build what we have. We’re not crooks,” adds the founder of The Remo Ferri Group of Automobiles. Earlier this year, Ferri, who supports a number of charities, opened North America’s largest Ferrari Maserati dealership in Vaughan.

The city of Vaughan is home to multiple ethnicities, living and learning together in one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities.

The issue of Italian culture begins when Nuttall-Smith writes, “The city has more than 250,000 residents today, and the largest concentration of Italian immigrants in Canada. More than 40 per cent of the population claims Italian heritage. Six out of eight of the city’s councillors are Italian; they often campaign in Italian and bow to local Italian-language media.”

Sandra Yeung Racco, Vaughan Councillor.

In instances like this, I’m jaded from having to explain, very slowly, that no, not every Vaughan resident is Italian. “We have a very multicultural and diverse group of residents and businesses,” says Vaughan Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco. I think that makes us very rare. We have a good balance of multiple cultures within our community.”

A surprise to most, the city of Vaughan is just 38 per cent Italian. The rest of the community includes Jewish, Indian, Russian, Vietnamese, French and Romanian cultures, among others. “It is a very interesting and special experience for emigrants that first come to live in Vaughan and are new to the country. For me, Vaughan has everything you need,” says Mimoza Gila, an Albanian who lives in Woodbridge.

I must dispel yet another illusion: that of the housing climate of Vaughan. Guess what! We don’t all live like starlets in Hollywood-style “executive estates” with Roman pillars and multiple garages. “A number of condominium apartments and multiple row houses have been built [in Vaughan] over the past few years,” states the city of Vaughan’s website.

Just take a drive through Vaughan’s major communities – Concord, Kleinburg, Maple, Thornhill, Woodbridge – and you will find families living under the roof of a condominium, duplex or ­– gasp! – renting. Also, Vaughan is not “paved over,” with more than 1,000 hectares of vacant land.

For those who do enjoy the niceties of an upscale life, it all wasn’t handed down to them on a silver platter.

Vaughan isn’t where ”old money” lives and breathes. That kind of currency dwells in Toronto’s lavish Rosedale neighbourhood, where our nation’s wealthiest hold tea parties and clink their crystal in a lifestyle set in the most posh and expensive neighbourhood in Canada.

Maurizio Bevilacqua

Vaughan is a city where immigrants settled many years ago, and instead of being stagnant, grew and expanded. Adding 10,000 new residents each year, Vaughan continues to be one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities. By 2031, it is expected to be home to 420,000 people. How could a city described as a “political mess” with “politically connected developers” continue to attract new residents?

“Vaughan is a city that can in fact become world-class,” explains Maurizio Bevilacqua, a member of Parliament who represents Vaughan. “People [in Vaughan] are entrepreneurial and enlightened in the sense that while they excel at creating economic growth, they also understand their social responsibility. We are willing to share with one another … our focus is to improve the quality of life and standard of living for all Vaughan residents.”

The people of Vaughan were not spoon-fed a great life. They have felt the effects of segregation, communism, fascism and Nazism; they have endured poverty and oppression. But they rose out of hardship and misery; they struggled and sweated and strained to get to where they are today so their children could enjoy a lifestyle they didn’t have. “A lot of people came to this country in the ’40s and ’50s with only the shirt on their back, wanting to make a better life for themselves,” says Mayor Jackson. “They sacrificed … leaving wives and children in other countries to come to this country to make a better life, and they worked non-stop.”

As the innocent and hardworking residents of Vaughan continue to face an unfair reputation, the city’s accomplishments have taken a back seat. “The perception being created is an unfortunate one, but it is one that certainly can be improved by presenting the true nature of Vaughan and the community – its reality, not its mythology,” says MP Bevilacqua.

It’s time to take a stand, so that the next time you venture out of Vaughan, you won’t feel ashamed to say where you came from.

TOP: Mayor’s Gala committee celebrates the red carpet event. ABOVE LEFT: The Diamond sponsors of the event represented by PowerStream. ABOVE MID: The RBC Royal Bank sponsors enjoy their lovely meal at the Mayor’s Gala event. ABOVE RIGHT: Sponsors from Castlepoint Investments Inc. smile for the camera.

FROM LEFT: Councillor Peter Meffe, Mayor Linda Jackson, Joseph Gault, Antonio Caruso, Cinzia Caruso; Canada Post selects Antonio Caruso’s artwork for the Christmas Stamps Collection of 2008 and 2009; Italian-Canadian sculptor and painter Antonio Caruso

King township

A Source of Wisdom: Margaret Black
Written By Stephanie D’Angelo

Protected by the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Green Belt, the township of King, which includes King City, Nobleton, and Schomberg, serves as home to nearly 20,000 residents. With herds of prize cattle and many prestigious horse farms dotting the rolling countryside, King is revered as being safe, clean and picturesque. “The thing I love most about King is that we are a very

community-oriented group, and people really watch out for one another,” says Margaret Black, the mayor of King township.

With Black in charge, the town has come a long way. She and her team have developed forward-thinking community plans that restrict new growth, and detailed designs for new commercial areas. They have also put strategic environmental plans and risk-management policies into place. “I have to say that I am very proud of our team,” says Black. “We have an excellent staff that is very committed to the community.”

Although focused and driven, the self-proclaimed movie buff and chocolate lover always makes time for her number 1 priority: family. “I work long hours, so we have a pretty crazy schedule at home, but we’ve adapted,” she says. The proud mother is happy to say that she has maintained a close relationship with her two sons. “Today I received phone calls from both of my sons – 26 and 27-year-old men, who still call me if they need something – I think that’s wonderful.”

Black has also guided others with her inspirational advice. As an alumnus of St. Thomas of Villanova College, I had the privilege of hearing Mayor Black speak at my high school graduation. Her uplifting words and motivational story resonated with each of the graduates, and helped me feel more prepared for the educational and professional journeys I have since embarked on.

A dedicated leader, Black also spends much of her time on charity efforts, enthusiastically championing and supporting several community and environmental   organizations, including the Mayor’s Charity Golf Challenge, which assists children with special needs, and the York Region Community Foundation, which has set up a fund to support future Olympians.

It is this dedication to her community that Mayor Black is most recognized for. And she encourages her people to show the same degree of commitment toward each other. “If every citizen did even a few hours of volunteer service every single year, it would substantially assist our community,” she says. “I’ve seen some wonderful kindness in our city, people doing what they can to help out their neighbours, and that’s what community is all about.”

www.township.king.on.ca

Newmarket

The People’s Mayor: Tony Van Bynen
Written By Michael Mannella

It’s a place where you find the time to talk to your neighbours, where people feel safe and welcome. Despite a population of 86,000 people within a dense 14 square miles, Newmarket boasts environmental leadership, affordability, and a community that really cares. And behind all that, is a simple man of the people.

Mayor Tony Van Bynen, who’s lived in over a dozen municipalities during his lifetime, has come to cherish the community he now leads. “It’s a community that really cares,” says the 58-year-old, who started his career as a printing press operator and baker during high school.

“It’s the volunteerism that just overwhelms me. People are committed to hockey and soccer leagues, and work for the blood donor clinic. We have more run and walk-a-thons than the city of Toronto … our people care about making a difference in someone else’s life.” For the past five years, Van Bynen has been volunteering at the Inn From the Cold winter shelter, where he makes sandwiches, settles people into shelter, arranges for clothing, and cleans up after visitors.

Growing up on a farm with five brothers and five sisters, Van Bynen is no stranger to hard work and helping out. Taking a vacation once every three years, he dedicates most of his time to public service. “Actually, I am due for a vacation,” he admits, “but there’s just been a lot of projects that I’ve wanted to get advanced during the summer months.”

Even though as a child he thought of being a poet or rock star, the mayor eventually settled into banking, where he devoted 30 years of his life. “The thing I learned from being a printer, baker, and from my years in banking is that I get my greatest sense of achievement in helping others succeed, and that’s the principle I live by.”

After retiring from the banking industry, Van Bynen ran for Newmarket’s town council. He spent three years as a councillor, and another three as regional councillor.

The mayor says his leadership style reflects the people he respects most. His inspiration comes from three famous leaders, all from different time periods. “I very much admire the Dalai Lama, because of his way of listening. Martin Luther King Jr. is someone whom I admire for his social justice. And when I think of John A. Macdonald, I think about the man’s vision on commitment and how to build.” Van Bynen’s three choices reveal a man who’s dedicated to his people. “I come back to the golden rule: We need to listen to all perspectives.”

www.newmarket.ca

Toronto

Driving the City Forward: David Miller
Written By Simona Panetta

“We’re trying to make Toronto a city that blooms with prosperity,” says Mayor David Miller, while on his way to make a public announcement on repairing Toronto community housing buildings.

With the end of summer and the slow pace it brings, Miller is picking up speed this fall by tackling the core demands of Canada’s largest city.

“The biggest challenge is meeting the needs of Torontonians in the 21st century based on a government model from the 19th century,” explains Miller. “In a modern world, cities [are] where the new economy is happening, where the jobs are being created, where people want to live.” Toronto only sees five per cent of the money raised by taxes.

Working on a forward-thinking agenda that centres on revitalizing Toronto, while fulfilling his roles as a father and husband, Mayor Miller has his hands full.

“I try to do everything, which means that seven days a week I’m at events. That’s very difficult and puts immense stress on marriages and families,” explains Miller, who was recently criticized for his brief appearance during the Sunrise Propane explosion in Downsview this past August. “[But] my office is ruthless about making sure that I have some time with my family … We have at least one holiday in the year that is special for us,” says Miller.

A strong-minded leader by reputation, Miller’s effort to push for a ban on handguns demonstrates his worry for the safety of Toronto’s youth. “I’m a dad, and once you become a dad, you’re always, always worried about the safety of your children.”

Born in California and raised in England by his mother, the Millers came to Canada in 1967. “I think that we are unique in the world in how we welcome people, the way I was welcomed as a boy … Torontonians recognize that although newcomers change us a little bit … it makes us all better, stronger, and more interesting.”

As a child, Miller always dreamed of being a bus conductor. “I went to school on a double-deck bus everyday, and the conductor had a great job, and that was my first job,” says Miller. Since then, Miller attended Harvard University and the University of Toronto, where he received degrees in economics and law, respectively. While working as a partner in a major law firm, he decided that “the city was going in the wrong direction,” and so, he decided to enter politics. “I am very proud of the steps that I have taken … We’re transformed the city government, we’re transforming the city and doing it in a way that creates wealth and opportunities for those who need it the most … That’s what I am going to keep doing,” says Miller.

www.toronto.ca

Vaughan

Through Thick and Thin:Linda Jackson
Written By Simona Panetta

For years, the last name Jackson has been synonymous with municipal politics. So when Linda Jackson stepped in as mayor of Vaughan in 2006, she was given the opportunity to continue a family legacy with her political prowess.

She was just 15-years-old when her mother, Lorna Jackson, was first elected in 1974 to council. The Jackson household teemed with political discourse: how to bring about change; the importance of volunteerism; the magnitude of public service.

Naturally, a young Linda grew an interest for public affairs, and entered the political arena in 2002, when she was first elected as a ward councillor in a by-election. Her mother passed away in office that same year, making her Vaughan’s longest-serving, most community-involved mayor. “Running the city was still a huge priority for her right up to the end,” remembers Linda.

During her tenure, Lorna oversaw the rapid growth and development of Vaughan, which transitioned from a town into a city in 1991.

Today, Linda continues her birthright by drawing inspiration from her mother’s life work. “Being able to help people is the most important thing,” says Linda, who serves on the Vaughan Health Care Foundation and the York Region Abuse Program, to name a few.

“I learned a lot from my mother. I want to certainly honour her legacy, but also create my own,” says Linda.

Some of her initiatives include expanding environmentally friendly services, and ensuring that the plan to erect a hospital in Vaughan goes through.

“I want to make Vaughan a livable city … I want people to able to feel like they can work close from home, have access to world-class community centres, and have a high-quality of life.

Vaughan’s significant growth over the years has deemed it the fastest-growing municipality in Canada, with an influx of 1,100 new citizens settling into the area each month.

And with a busy city comes a busy mayor’s office. “It certainly is a 24-7 job,” says Linda, who works around the clock attending meetings, responding to citizen inquiries, and attending evening commitments.

Despite her efforts, Linda’s reputation in the community has waned due to a June 2008 audit, which revealed that her 2006 campaign finances may have exceeded her legal spending limit. Standing her ground, Linda says she keeps composed and confident with the help of her family’s support. “If people are saying things about you that maybe aren’t true or correct, you need to be able to have a thick-enough skin to be able to take it,” says Linda. Ever the optimistic, Linda admits that although it is a challenging time for her, she has the ability to turn a bad situation into a positive experience. “I think it’s made me a stronger person because it has made me realize that you don’t sweat the little things, try to look at the bigger picture and move … and don’t let it get to you; don’t take it to heart.”

www.vaughan.ca

Richmond Hill

Leading with Kitchen-Table Lessons: Dave Barrow
Written By Michael Mannella

Living life certainly has its challenges. And for Dave Barrow, mayor of Richmond Hill, there is no exception to the rule. For the 61-year-old man, father, and grandfather, life has been busier than ever.

Taking on a leadership role in Richmond Hill is a unique experience, says the experienced Barrow. It’s “a smaller community, and more close-knit,” he remarks. And usually, unique experiences bring unique responsibilities.

“We have a concern for our history, to make sure that it is not forgotten. We have a concern for our environment, to do all we can to protect it and enhance it.” Passionate about the town he loves and knows so well, Barrow leads with an eye to the future. “We want to protect the community … and not just build for today. The challenge is to try to find a balance,” he says.

Guiding Richmond Hill with his verve and commitment, Barrow fully accepts that the position of mayor is more than an average nine to five job. He serves the residents of his community by working 12-hour weekdays, along with weekend events. By fulfilling his responsibilities to the community while finding time to spend with his wife, children, and grandchildren, Barrow sets a motivational example for his citizens to reflect on. “I think we should be responsible for our own actions. I grew up at a time where my mom, dad, sister and I all ate dinner together. Some of those
kitchen-table lessons were the ones that stayed. I think every parent should teach their children responsibility.”

Born and raised in Richmond Hill, Barrow was involved in his family’s business for years when he decided to enter municipal politics more than a decade ago. During this time, Barrow remembers thinking that he might want to do more. “ … [I thought]: ‘Someday, I can be mayor, and I can be a good mayor, and lead the council and the community.’ ” From that point, he earned his title through a long process, serving first as councillor, and then as regional councillor.

Barrow praises the actions of his late father, Elgin Barrow, who taught him the importance of giving back to society with his dedicated involvement in the community. “My father is somebody that I admire … I admired the way he took calculated risks, but was also a man that was up for anything,” says Barrow. Following his footsteps closely, Barrow extends his father’s legacy by taking part in numerous community initiatives. He is the founding member of Richmond Hill Community Sport Council, Richmond Hill Intercultural Committee, and Richmond Hill Terry Fox Run, to name a few. The Elgin Barrow Arena Complex in Richmond Hill was named after Barrow’s father.

With the challenges that come with a lifestyle in municipal politics, Barrow is glad to have his wife, Tomye Anne, by his side. “I remember my wife saying: ‘Be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, or someone that people want you to be.’ Since then, I haven’t tried to follow anybody’s leadership style. I am a person that tries to get consensus, and I try to make sure everybody can get involved.”

www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca

Mississauga

Taking Mississauga by Storm: Hazel McCallion
Written By Michael Mannella

An accomplished woman and a beacon in her community, Hazel McCallion is an inspiration to people everywhere. As Mississauga’s first female mayor, she’s led Canada’s sixth largest city for 30 years, overcoming trials and tribulations on a daily basis. She is 87-years-old.

Starting her first job in Montreal with Canadian Kellogg, a construction and engineering company, McCallion was exposed to the world of industry and infrastructure from the beginning of her career.

Today, residents of Mississauga would agree that she has brought a number of her acquired skills to the table. “I tried to look after people,” she says. “I made sure the businesses that came into Mississauga had the services they needed to be successful, and that families could raise their children with the amenities that were necessary.”

McCallion, affectionately nicknamed “Hurricane Hazel,” began her political career in 1968, when she was elected deputy reeve of Streetsville. Although she tried to keep the town separate from the Region of Peel and Mississauga, she eventually ran for mayor when the municipalities were reorganized. McCallion became mayor of Mississauga in 1978, after serving two terms as councillor.

Since then, her goals have been constant and unwavering. “My objective is always to keep Mississauga the great city that it is, and keep moving forward.”

Her constituents seem to approve of her philosophy, with over 90 per cent of votes supporting the mayor in each municipal election. Not only has McCallion established one of the first pay-as-you-go ideologies in her city, she’s also avoided donations and expenses in recent elections. “I believe in running our city like a business and remaining debt-free.”

The mayor speaks her mind, especially when it comes to improving Mississauga. This year, she’s backing a campaign called Cities NOW! The program points out how the federal government pushes the responsibility of infrastructure onto Canadian cities. McCallion openly encourages everyone to learn about this important campaign.

Involvement is probably one of the most important messages the mayor advocates.  “Get involved in your community,” she says, “whether through your local ratepayer group, or by joining one of the city’s many citizen committees.”

Being true to her example, McCallion dedicates an average of 80 hours a week to her city. “I don’t take much time for vacationing or recreation,” admits the mayor, who hasn’t taken many breaks since her husband’s death in 1997.

When she can rest, McCallion looks after her house, yard and garden, and once in a blue moon, she finds time for fishing.

www.mississauga.ca

Markham/Unionville

Great Minds Think Early: Frank Scarpitti
Written By Michael Mannella

For Mayor Frank Scarpitti of Markham, politics came at an early age. Tracing his leadership abilities back to high school, you could say his career began when he was elected student council president. “Maybe it was the beginning,” the modest mayor admits. “But it wasn’t something I set out to do. What I actually wanted was to be in the media as a broadcaster.”

In Grade 11 history class, the mayor remembers doing his first interview for an assignment. “A music radio station, called CFTR, had a feature news program on aliens, and I called down to Clearwater, Fla., and asked a professor if he wouldn’t mind me interviewing him.”

Starting his career in York Region, Scarpitti eventually joined CFMT and hosted a show on business and politics. Interviewing a number of city councillors and mayors, he gained further insight  into the political arena – insight he would one day put to the test.

“I was in the media, and the mayor then, Tony Roman, spoke to me and said, ‘You know, Frank, you should really get involved in Markham council.’ ” Scarpitti decided not to run in the next by-election, feeling too young and inexperienced. But the following year, Roman came back to push a little harder. “He said, ‘Listen, I mean it. You’ve got to run, and you’ve got to get involved in local politics.’ ”

After being elected mayor of Markham, Scarpitti made some sweeping changes. He hired an auditor general to work outside the city staff structure, to look at municipal processes, evaluate projects, and make recommendations on how to save taxpayers’ money. Presently, the mayor and city council are pushing for more money from the provincial and federal governments to support rapid transit.

The mayor’s political skill isn’t the only thing he learned from childhood. His commitment to community comes from the people he loved and respected. “I would say I got it from my parents, that caring for individuals. They came here in 1965, and I can’t help but look back and say, ‘Thanks mom and dad for moving to Markham.’ ”

Today, Markham has come to appreciate Scarpitti in much of the same way. During City Life Magazine’s photo shoot, passersby stopped to greet and talk with the mayor. “Some would probably say my weakness is that I don’t know how to say no to people. I’m determined, and certainly friendly and approachable.”

His work ethic has undoubtedly played a role in his success as a leader. “I don’t really put anyone’s success in fate,” he explains. “I think it’s just how we all handle opportunities that are presented to us.”  When asked if he fears anything, Scarpitti explains, “At this stage in my life, I don’t spend a lot of time fearing things as much as I just wish the best for people.”

His empathy for others is no exception when it comes to family. After working 15-hour days, six days a week, the mayor unwinds with his wife and three children. “Good company, good jokes and being with family make me happy.”

www.markham.ca