mississauga life magazine - a passionate persuader
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7/31/2019 Mississauga Life Magazine - A Passionate Persuader
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7/31/2019 Mississauga Life Magazine - A Passionate Persuader
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CITY LIFE | POLITICS
22SPIRITof the CITY
May/June 2012
fundraising in Vancouver; I loved networking with Arts Umbrella
[a non-profit arts centre for kids in the heart of Granville Island]
and its huge outreach program.
Coming Home
The Crombies North American journey finally brought them
home as Brian was hired by Mississauga-based pharmaceutical
manufacturer Biovail.
Crombie started working with Toronto Fashion Week to
help them grow their sponsorships, and she returned to school
to take her Master of Business Administration degree from York
University. She got involved with the Credit Valley Hospital Galaand fundraising. She served on the Mayors Blue Ribbon Task
Force on the Arts to provide recommendations for the future
sustainability of the arts in Mississauga.
Her ascension to political office was prompted in 2007,
when former car dealer and Pakistan Air Force pilot Wajid Khan,
(Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville at the time)
discovered that he preferred to work with the Conservative
minority government and agreed to become Stephen Harpers
special envoy to the Middle East. This immediately raised the
temperature in Liberal households across Mississauga, especially
amongst his most dedicated campaign workers, including Crombie.
Six months later, when Wajid Khan walked across the floor
to join the Conservatives, the people who got him elected would
turn to work against him in the next electionled by newly
elected Liberal candidate Bonnie Crombie. It was a betrayal,
she offers succinctly.
Crombie defeated Khan in the 2008 elections. Once on the
Hill in Ottawa, she became the noticeably red-clad chair of the
Liberals GTA caucus and was paired with fellow newcomer,
Justin Trudeau, as co-chair of the partys Outreach Committee.
She enjoyed working on the NATO committee and her languages
served her well; she speaks Polish, Ukrainian, French and English.
The Blue WaveOn May 2, 2011, her career as an ebullient hard-working membe
of Parliament was shattered by a surprising defeat at the polls.
Conservative candidate Brad Butt won the riding easily as part
of the blue wave that swept Mississauga. After a previously
charmed professional life, Crombie was not equipped for defeat.
I didnt see it coming. It was big loss. I loved being the
community advocate. I thrived on it. I was doing a good job but
the tide was against me.
Immediately, her old friend Hazel McCallion suggested that
Crombie run for the seat on Mississaugas City Council, vacant
after the departure of newly elected MP and former Ward 5
Councillor Eve Adams.
I had experience, integrity and leadership, and would
support the Mayors teamand there were candidates who
didnt, she notes, recalling the case for her candidacy.
Stepping into the political ring against a strong candidate
like Carolyn Parrish was daunting, but Crombie needed to win.
Winning gave her a way back and she bent to the task of getting
to know far-flung Ward 5the biggest, most populous Ward in
the City. Six weeks later, after a tumultuous campaign as one of
27 candidates, Crombie was elected to City Council with only 24
more votes than Parrish, the runner-up.
TOP
Cutting the ribbon on a
huge residential project
that promises economic
benefts up and down
Hurontario Street.
BOTTOM
Surrounded by supporters
in a neighbourhood pub
on election night, Crombie
savours her hard-ought win.
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7/31/2019 Mississauga Life Magazine - A Passionate Persuader
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Six months later, at this interview, I was given a list of Bonnie
Crombies initiatives during her first six months on the job. While
it sounds similar to lists that other Councillors work with, these
issues represent new and exciting challenges for the Citys newest
Councillor. Shes held public meetings on Pinnacles grand new
residential development, Uptown, and promoted meetings on
secondary units to address the challenge of providing affordable
housing in the City. Shes working to change provincial legislation
regarding the proximity of crematoriums to residential areas;
shes brought forward a motion to Council for a new Governance
Committee to strengthen the Citys ethical infrastructure, and
another to encourage the Ontario government to preserve the long-
gun registry information. Shes also developing a youth program,
joined the Regions Child Care Task Force, and hosted the Wards 1st
Annual Skate-a-Thon.
Bonnie Crombie is just getting warmed up. But she worries
about how she can become a better business ambassador
for Ward 5 and lift the economy. To that end, shes already
helping neighbourhoods establish residents associations, and
is organizing a Business Improvement Association in Malton to
raise funds for community improvements.
Shes delighted that Pinnacles Uptown will incorporate a
major public art component, a particular interest of hers. One
longer-term priority is to work with the City of Brampton for the
much-needed construction of the Goreway Drive overpass at the
CN Rail line, south of Steeles Avenue.
Every day my staff and I ask: What we can do to make
things better in Ward 5? Weve got a list, so we know whats
needed; but what could we do, she asks, passionately looking
for new ideas. n
The boundaries of Ward 5 are as follows: Starting east from the Ontario Hydro Corridor/
City of Brampton l imits at Fletchers Creek to Hwy. 427, then south along the 427 toEglinton Ave., then west along Eglinton to Mavis Rd., then north along Mavis to Hwy. 401,
then east along the 401 to McLaughlin Rd., then north along McLaughlin to Fletchers
Creek, and north along Fletchers Creek to the City of Brampton limits.
Locating Ward 5
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