A couple of recent events have me thinking again about remaining in London rather than looking for work back in Toronto. To be a little more accurate, I was verbally offered a job by a friend and now that he's won the by-election in Toronto Center there's a stronger chance of that job becoming a reality. However, 6 weeks after speaking with this person, I'm not sure going back to Toronto is the right choice for me.
I've also applied for a job at a small web development firm who do some great work both for their customers as well as the community partners they assist as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility plan. And there are other self-generated possibilities to find happiness, challenge and reward as well.
I have a world of debt right now. Its a fairly daunting thing. London makes sense in this regard because, a) living is cheaper here and b) lots of free meals with the folks c) incomes aren't that much higher in Toronto relative to the cost of living and d) I really can't afford the amenities that Toronto offers anyway. I'd rather drive 2 hours to the rare concert I can't afford to go to if I live in Toronto.
That said, its all kind of abstract and academic if I can't find work or figure out how to earn a living in London. There are simply more jobs in Toronto for my background in politics and then government-focused business development. But I've also come to the conclusion that while I love politics, I don't enjoy Party politics and may indeed lack the party loyalty (blind allegiance) to work in that world.
So what to do?
The events I referred to above were TVO's Agenda Camp (which I didn't actually attend but watched on Twitter and online) and Wednesday night's Geek Dinner. I love my hometown for a variety of reasons but I make no bones about my frustrations with London Ontario. This is a white bread community.
But I wonder what I can do to try and change London. London is not poised well for the challenges presented by a post-Carbon economy. From its sprawling subdivisions to a lack of Creative Economy jobs and the sort of Big Box suburban commercial development that makes an Urbanist want to commit suicide, this City is in trouble the minute we hit the back end of Peak Oil.
So it is with those things in mind that I ask: How can I help? How do we get Londoners more engaged in their City? Londoners are active in community organizations but few of these present the opportunity to bring together people of diverse interests and lifestyles - its mostly people who sing from the same hymn book.
London is surely not alone in being a suburban City. How can we learn to grow inwardly and exploit the resources and infrastructure we already have? How do we unite people and interests and build the capacity of our City - socially, economically, culturally?
I take much of my inspiration from authors/economists like Jane Jacobs and Richard Florida. Community is more than a collection of homes and employment opportunities. It is diversity and tolerance and people with different ideas clashing and communicating to grow.
I hope you'll reach out. If there are community leaders I should speak to or you know, let me know. I want/need to become more active. Ideally, this leads to some kind of paying work too!
Showing posts with label Municipal Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Municipal Politics. Show all posts
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Another New idea
Everything happens for a reason, right?
People keep telling me this but its often hard to believe it, particularly when you've endured a number of months of unemployment. However, last night's Beers with Jas (perhaps the title of an ongoing discussion) has given me faith once again in the marvels of our universe.
When I was 17, it was a very good year, but alas, that's a digression. Ahem, when I was 17, I had the good fortune to indicate positively in response to my Accounting Teacher's question: 'Who likes Baseball' and again to the question: 'who is looking for a part-time job this summer?' Turns out old Ken Hernimen knew Bob Eamon who would be leading the Ticket-selling efforts for the start-up Double A Eastern League Baseball Team, The London Tigers. Providence was smiling.
For the next 4 years, I would work for the London Tigers as a Ticket Seller and Parking Attendant at London's Labatt Park. Its how I met my ex-wife and while that didn't turn out so well (though there are many good memories too) it seems that fateful summer love may lead to something new and much greater.
While out with Jas, it came to mention that Jim Chapman, host of AM980's Jim Chapman News Hour, recently discussed his interest in hiring someone, or creating some entity that would provide Londoners with information about the activities at London City Hall. It's an idea I've had from time-to-time since returning to London in August.
For those of you unfamiliar with London History and currently scratching your head wondering how these two seemingly random events connect...Jim Chapman was also the bane of my existence for a number of years - but in a very jovial and positive way. Jim wrote a song that for years played on a constant loop in my brain. If you haven't already guessed, Jim wrote the famous lines..."Its the crack of the bat, the smack of the glove, the sounds of the game that everyone loves, it's London Tiger Baseball! Tear 'em up Tigers, Let's Go!"
21 years after that fateful summer, I am back in my hometown, with a head full of knowledge about City government, ideas about the causes of London's ills and ways to solve them. I've been wondering recently how to get Londoners informed about what is going on at City Hall.
For instance, my parents consistently wonder how Toronto taxpayers can complain when their City taxes are equivalent to London's and yet enjoy a multitude of services. This of course at the same time as all properties are taxed based on their Current Value Assessment. This means a house worth 300,000 in Toronto pays the same dollar in taxes as a 150,000 home in London.
The answer of course is obvious to anyone with a knowledge of Property Taxes and Urban Economics. The answer lies in the question of population density. Toronto packs 'em in. This is why Toronto residents can get an answer from their Councillor who represents a similar number of residents as a London Councillor while having a staff of 3 to assist her. The question is not "why are Toronto's taxes the same" but rather "Why are London's taxes so high relative to the services provided?" Simply put, urban sprawl costs more to service and London has urban sprawl like Horton's has donuts!
This is but one of the areas that I wish to educate Londoners about. We can choose to all live on cul-de-sacs in sprawling subdivisions but we have to understand the trade-offs of inefficient services, expensive taxes, poor air quality, poor transit, low quality jobs in car-oriented business places, un-walkable neighbourhoods, traffic gridlock, etc.. These problems only get worse as infrastructure ages without the density to pay for its replacement.
So...how do we get Londoners to care? How do we get behind the garage and into the living rooms? Civic Engagement. We can fight for a City that works or we can sit back and allow developers to continue to build highly profitable subdivisions further from the center of town, while 'brownfield' lots get skipped over. Or we can challenge our City's Mothers and Fathers to think of a post-carbon (its coming) future where driving is the last choice, not the first. We can redevelop existing lands within the City's boundaries while preserving valuable green space on the edge of town from being paved over. We can stop forcing deer to commit hari-kari off bridges in the Northwest end of town. Soon enough, the high costs of our wasteful energy use of the past 30 years will catch up, as resources are depleted and those green areas will prove valuable for small-scale farming and recreation.
There are, I'm sure, great things at work, fantastic ideas about London's future that we cannot even explore due to the costs of servicing our sprawling City. The deep thinkers, the Richard Floridas and Jane Jacobs of the world know that Cities are the future and that the successful ones are those that enable arts, culture, sport and creativity.
Its time to ask Londoners to think more deeply about how we grow. But they can only be expected to think wisely if they have the information necessary to do so. Current news media does a poor job of informing Londoners about their civic government. The London Free Press is run out of Toronto and carries little deep coverage of London City Hall. A Channel News, is run, more or less, out of Toronto and carries little deep coverage about London City Hall.
So...how do we grow City Think London. Jim? If you've got the funding, I've got the ideas.
We start with Civic Engagement 101. We cover City meetings of all kinds. We profile the existing Councillors. We profile City bureaucrats and let Londoners know who they are. We delve deeply into the issues about taxation and growth. We look at who funds election campaigns. We seriously look at the amount politicians are paid compared to what is asked of them, we ask how much they have at hand for staffing and serving constituents. And we track the votes and report them. We create transparency and accountability of politicians, developers and residents.
And we hold our own meetings. We engage the residents of this City by inviting guest lecturers to meetings that get us to think more deeply about the kinds of communities we'd like to live in. The London Urban Institute might be a name we use for that work.
So...Jim. I hope you'll remember me, 21 years after the year we met, in the Press Box above Labatt Park, that field of dreams that represented my hopes for a better future. And I hope, like me, you see Providence smiling as the sun rises on this day after Remembrance Day. Let's make London an engaged City.
People keep telling me this but its often hard to believe it, particularly when you've endured a number of months of unemployment. However, last night's Beers with Jas (perhaps the title of an ongoing discussion) has given me faith once again in the marvels of our universe.
When I was 17, it was a very good year, but alas, that's a digression. Ahem, when I was 17, I had the good fortune to indicate positively in response to my Accounting Teacher's question: 'Who likes Baseball' and again to the question: 'who is looking for a part-time job this summer?' Turns out old Ken Hernimen knew Bob Eamon who would be leading the Ticket-selling efforts for the start-up Double A Eastern League Baseball Team, The London Tigers. Providence was smiling.
For the next 4 years, I would work for the London Tigers as a Ticket Seller and Parking Attendant at London's Labatt Park. Its how I met my ex-wife and while that didn't turn out so well (though there are many good memories too) it seems that fateful summer love may lead to something new and much greater.
While out with Jas, it came to mention that Jim Chapman, host of AM980's Jim Chapman News Hour, recently discussed his interest in hiring someone, or creating some entity that would provide Londoners with information about the activities at London City Hall. It's an idea I've had from time-to-time since returning to London in August.
For those of you unfamiliar with London History and currently scratching your head wondering how these two seemingly random events connect...Jim Chapman was also the bane of my existence for a number of years - but in a very jovial and positive way. Jim wrote a song that for years played on a constant loop in my brain. If you haven't already guessed, Jim wrote the famous lines..."Its the crack of the bat, the smack of the glove, the sounds of the game that everyone loves, it's London Tiger Baseball! Tear 'em up Tigers, Let's Go!"
21 years after that fateful summer, I am back in my hometown, with a head full of knowledge about City government, ideas about the causes of London's ills and ways to solve them. I've been wondering recently how to get Londoners informed about what is going on at City Hall.
For instance, my parents consistently wonder how Toronto taxpayers can complain when their City taxes are equivalent to London's and yet enjoy a multitude of services. This of course at the same time as all properties are taxed based on their Current Value Assessment. This means a house worth 300,000 in Toronto pays the same dollar in taxes as a 150,000 home in London.
The answer of course is obvious to anyone with a knowledge of Property Taxes and Urban Economics. The answer lies in the question of population density. Toronto packs 'em in. This is why Toronto residents can get an answer from their Councillor who represents a similar number of residents as a London Councillor while having a staff of 3 to assist her. The question is not "why are Toronto's taxes the same" but rather "Why are London's taxes so high relative to the services provided?" Simply put, urban sprawl costs more to service and London has urban sprawl like Horton's has donuts!
This is but one of the areas that I wish to educate Londoners about. We can choose to all live on cul-de-sacs in sprawling subdivisions but we have to understand the trade-offs of inefficient services, expensive taxes, poor air quality, poor transit, low quality jobs in car-oriented business places, un-walkable neighbourhoods, traffic gridlock, etc.. These problems only get worse as infrastructure ages without the density to pay for its replacement.
So...how do we get Londoners to care? How do we get behind the garage and into the living rooms? Civic Engagement. We can fight for a City that works or we can sit back and allow developers to continue to build highly profitable subdivisions further from the center of town, while 'brownfield' lots get skipped over. Or we can challenge our City's Mothers and Fathers to think of a post-carbon (its coming) future where driving is the last choice, not the first. We can redevelop existing lands within the City's boundaries while preserving valuable green space on the edge of town from being paved over. We can stop forcing deer to commit hari-kari off bridges in the Northwest end of town. Soon enough, the high costs of our wasteful energy use of the past 30 years will catch up, as resources are depleted and those green areas will prove valuable for small-scale farming and recreation.
There are, I'm sure, great things at work, fantastic ideas about London's future that we cannot even explore due to the costs of servicing our sprawling City. The deep thinkers, the Richard Floridas and Jane Jacobs of the world know that Cities are the future and that the successful ones are those that enable arts, culture, sport and creativity.
Its time to ask Londoners to think more deeply about how we grow. But they can only be expected to think wisely if they have the information necessary to do so. Current news media does a poor job of informing Londoners about their civic government. The London Free Press is run out of Toronto and carries little deep coverage of London City Hall. A Channel News, is run, more or less, out of Toronto and carries little deep coverage about London City Hall.
So...how do we grow City Think London. Jim? If you've got the funding, I've got the ideas.
We start with Civic Engagement 101. We cover City meetings of all kinds. We profile the existing Councillors. We profile City bureaucrats and let Londoners know who they are. We delve deeply into the issues about taxation and growth. We look at who funds election campaigns. We seriously look at the amount politicians are paid compared to what is asked of them, we ask how much they have at hand for staffing and serving constituents. And we track the votes and report them. We create transparency and accountability of politicians, developers and residents.
And we hold our own meetings. We engage the residents of this City by inviting guest lecturers to meetings that get us to think more deeply about the kinds of communities we'd like to live in. The London Urban Institute might be a name we use for that work.
So...Jim. I hope you'll remember me, 21 years after the year we met, in the Press Box above Labatt Park, that field of dreams that represented my hopes for a better future. And I hope, like me, you see Providence smiling as the sun rises on this day after Remembrance Day. Let's make London an engaged City.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Determined to London
Odd title I know. However, this signals a new intention to be absolutely 100 percent satisfied and happy with my decision to relocate my life back to London Ontario and to make the most of my move and to help, if possible, better develop the most of my chosen City.
As I've previously written, I was born and raised here in London. My parents came here from England in the mid-60's. I was born in '71. We lived in Berkshire Village from the time I was born until I was 13, when we moved to Rington Crescent which sits delightfully under the glowing cross of the London Gospel Temple on Commissioners road west of Wharnecliffe. I attended Woodland Heights, one of 6 students to go all the way from K-8 at that school. I then went to Westminster, home of the Wildcats and one of the best (at the time) hockey schools in London - not a great esteem builder for someone who never played hockey and preferred basketball, but oh well, we won City Champs the year I was in Grade 13 (the first time.)
When I was 27, I got married and moved to Toronto. I was just happy to be with my ex-wife and to follow her there. It was good for me, though perhaps not a path I would have chosen for myself. Who knows?
I loved my life at Western. That's perhaps why I took two years off in the midst, while remaining a dedicated volunteer at the Campus Radio Station CHRW. I quite enjoyed the London music/punk/skate scene even if I was only an observer and commentator rather than a full-fledged participant (since I have the balance of, well, something with no balance.)
I took political science which has always been a natural interest of mine and something I've taken to quite intuitively. I think I either have a pretty large chip on my shoulder, a very sensitive bullshit detector and sense of fairness or a combination of all three. I am interested in economics and politics and where the two collide. My maternal grandfather probably has something to do with this inclination. He was a letter-writer and rabble-rouser, a mechanical engineer who joined the Union while at his firm in England (Douty-Rotol, Division of Rolls Royce and manufacturer of Spitfire Engines!) I recall attending NDP functions when I was young, seeing Bob Rae play piano at the Western Fairgrounds and campaigning door-to-door for David Winninger's election.
In High School I rather enjoyed the study of Social Sciences and the Arts (as well as the informal unmarked study of the rise of Nike, Air Jordans and girl-watching/swooning/crushing - if you were in High School with me, I no doubt had a crush on you for at least a week.) I shunned the sciences and maths even though I excelled in Accounting and kept the books for my Father's business. The life of an accountant didn't appeal to me though. Debits, Credits and depreciating Assets just didn't set my heart aflutter.
I'm also not a politician. Many have asked if I would run for office to which I normally reply "What kind of an asshole do you take me for?" While that is glib, it does tell you that I have no desire to seek the approval of people I don't know and am a bit too honest in saying that I don't have all the answers. I think someone who pretends to have all the answers, or even the lion's share of them, holds a lack of understanding about the study of politics, economics and law. There cannot by nature be absolutes. And absolutes are unfortunately, what most voters look for today. Nothing is worse than the flip-flopper, even if that's what is required most often to find pragmatic solutions.
I also have become quite agnostic and think that most people engaged in a deeper study of politics and economics, who puts thought rather than ego into the study, cannot help but become this way. Just like the study of religion, hence the use of the term agnostic, one can never know the answers to the big questions in absolute. For instance, Is Cuban communism bad? While one might rebuke the lack of freedom one might also wonder how successful any economy might be that relies solely on sugar cane, cigars and tourism. Does Honduras have universal Health Care?
And so, my wandering continues but I am thrilled to be able to do it. It is a luxury of our economy that today I can sit in bed while my mother goes to the hospital (with dad) for her meetings with Oncologists and I remain, unemployed. I am blessed indeed, even if I don't have a 'job' - though perhaps I'm just not meant to be a worker in the sense that today's global economy might require me to be. Things are changing in our world. Perhaps 30 years ago I would have chosen to pursue the path of journalism, but that world is shrinking and changing, the revenue model of the big paper broken.
So that is why I am simply determined to London. Maybe I'll go back to School and seek massive debt to enable that in hopes that some truer revenue model magically appears on the other side of more serious study than my 3 hazy years at the ages of 21-27. I can say, my last sets of marks were markedly better than my first sets, prior to my time off. Now with maturity, life experience and a host more knowledge and determination, enjoyment of reading to a greater degree, it might be quite enjoyable to delve deeper questions on my quest to be published.
I will gradually become more involved in the local political scene. I am looking forward to attending some up-coming events and public consultations. London has too much at stake to allow the dim-witted City Hall types to simply keep this car on cruise control. There are some who seem to get the challenges we face - the Killer B's as they're called and some of the City's staff. But it seems to me this town needs some serious questions answered.
Why are Big Boxes, Power Centers and House Farms being built on the edge of town while there's an apparent need to create good local employment and to be more inclusive to newcomers. Is London bound and determined to be a City of haves and have-nots, of a monoculture and lack of a creative economy? We shall see. These are the questions that interest me. How does public transit work in a City where apartment buildings are located in the middle of farmer's fields instead of on the edge of major roads, close to the public transit it uses?
One idea I am batting around at the moment is whether or not my next path lies in the development of a group that supports London-owned, independent business. Known as a BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) such an endeavour would be a non-profit organization aimed at promoting all things local, from arts to small business to other non-profits. Think Local campaigns are being waged as part of the growing resistance to what many people see as the unfair tipping of scales towards the few ultra-rich globalizing forces. So far the response from those I've met in local business has been luke-warm, leading me to wonder if the Londonness of London is too much to overcome.
Perhaps 11 percent unemployment isn't a loud enough siren for people to understand that as it currently stands, our systems of Finance and local Economic Development, particularly in a City like London, are broken. Perhaps people want a beggar-thy-neighbour local economy where homeless people stand with cardboard signs begging for spare change? I doubt it and the significant contributions to local charities tells me that's not the case. Perhaps people aren't connecting the dots - between the house farms, the Mega-Stores and the high unemployment and working-poor? Guess I'll have to ask first to find out.
One thing I'm sure of. When the Mayor of London says "We need to do more to attract business to London" people should be very worried, grab their wallets and look out for new billboards and ribbon cuttings. This kind of short-sighted, jobs at any cost mentality has caused us to find ourselves where we currently are - talent leaves town, local farms sell to developers, people sit in their TV rooms wondering why crime is growing and Transit fares and Property Taxes are increasing.
Sounds like a challenge for a contrarian!
As I've previously written, I was born and raised here in London. My parents came here from England in the mid-60's. I was born in '71. We lived in Berkshire Village from the time I was born until I was 13, when we moved to Rington Crescent which sits delightfully under the glowing cross of the London Gospel Temple on Commissioners road west of Wharnecliffe. I attended Woodland Heights, one of 6 students to go all the way from K-8 at that school. I then went to Westminster, home of the Wildcats and one of the best (at the time) hockey schools in London - not a great esteem builder for someone who never played hockey and preferred basketball, but oh well, we won City Champs the year I was in Grade 13 (the first time.)
When I was 27, I got married and moved to Toronto. I was just happy to be with my ex-wife and to follow her there. It was good for me, though perhaps not a path I would have chosen for myself. Who knows?
I loved my life at Western. That's perhaps why I took two years off in the midst, while remaining a dedicated volunteer at the Campus Radio Station CHRW. I quite enjoyed the London music/punk/skate scene even if I was only an observer and commentator rather than a full-fledged participant (since I have the balance of, well, something with no balance.)
I took political science which has always been a natural interest of mine and something I've taken to quite intuitively. I think I either have a pretty large chip on my shoulder, a very sensitive bullshit detector and sense of fairness or a combination of all three. I am interested in economics and politics and where the two collide. My maternal grandfather probably has something to do with this inclination. He was a letter-writer and rabble-rouser, a mechanical engineer who joined the Union while at his firm in England (Douty-Rotol, Division of Rolls Royce and manufacturer of Spitfire Engines!) I recall attending NDP functions when I was young, seeing Bob Rae play piano at the Western Fairgrounds and campaigning door-to-door for David Winninger's election.
In High School I rather enjoyed the study of Social Sciences and the Arts (as well as the informal unmarked study of the rise of Nike, Air Jordans and girl-watching/swooning/crushing - if you were in High School with me, I no doubt had a crush on you for at least a week.) I shunned the sciences and maths even though I excelled in Accounting and kept the books for my Father's business. The life of an accountant didn't appeal to me though. Debits, Credits and depreciating Assets just didn't set my heart aflutter.
I'm also not a politician. Many have asked if I would run for office to which I normally reply "What kind of an asshole do you take me for?" While that is glib, it does tell you that I have no desire to seek the approval of people I don't know and am a bit too honest in saying that I don't have all the answers. I think someone who pretends to have all the answers, or even the lion's share of them, holds a lack of understanding about the study of politics, economics and law. There cannot by nature be absolutes. And absolutes are unfortunately, what most voters look for today. Nothing is worse than the flip-flopper, even if that's what is required most often to find pragmatic solutions.
I also have become quite agnostic and think that most people engaged in a deeper study of politics and economics, who puts thought rather than ego into the study, cannot help but become this way. Just like the study of religion, hence the use of the term agnostic, one can never know the answers to the big questions in absolute. For instance, Is Cuban communism bad? While one might rebuke the lack of freedom one might also wonder how successful any economy might be that relies solely on sugar cane, cigars and tourism. Does Honduras have universal Health Care?
And so, my wandering continues but I am thrilled to be able to do it. It is a luxury of our economy that today I can sit in bed while my mother goes to the hospital (with dad) for her meetings with Oncologists and I remain, unemployed. I am blessed indeed, even if I don't have a 'job' - though perhaps I'm just not meant to be a worker in the sense that today's global economy might require me to be. Things are changing in our world. Perhaps 30 years ago I would have chosen to pursue the path of journalism, but that world is shrinking and changing, the revenue model of the big paper broken.
So that is why I am simply determined to London. Maybe I'll go back to School and seek massive debt to enable that in hopes that some truer revenue model magically appears on the other side of more serious study than my 3 hazy years at the ages of 21-27. I can say, my last sets of marks were markedly better than my first sets, prior to my time off. Now with maturity, life experience and a host more knowledge and determination, enjoyment of reading to a greater degree, it might be quite enjoyable to delve deeper questions on my quest to be published.
I will gradually become more involved in the local political scene. I am looking forward to attending some up-coming events and public consultations. London has too much at stake to allow the dim-witted City Hall types to simply keep this car on cruise control. There are some who seem to get the challenges we face - the Killer B's as they're called and some of the City's staff. But it seems to me this town needs some serious questions answered.
Why are Big Boxes, Power Centers and House Farms being built on the edge of town while there's an apparent need to create good local employment and to be more inclusive to newcomers. Is London bound and determined to be a City of haves and have-nots, of a monoculture and lack of a creative economy? We shall see. These are the questions that interest me. How does public transit work in a City where apartment buildings are located in the middle of farmer's fields instead of on the edge of major roads, close to the public transit it uses?
One idea I am batting around at the moment is whether or not my next path lies in the development of a group that supports London-owned, independent business. Known as a BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) such an endeavour would be a non-profit organization aimed at promoting all things local, from arts to small business to other non-profits. Think Local campaigns are being waged as part of the growing resistance to what many people see as the unfair tipping of scales towards the few ultra-rich globalizing forces. So far the response from those I've met in local business has been luke-warm, leading me to wonder if the Londonness of London is too much to overcome.
Perhaps 11 percent unemployment isn't a loud enough siren for people to understand that as it currently stands, our systems of Finance and local Economic Development, particularly in a City like London, are broken. Perhaps people want a beggar-thy-neighbour local economy where homeless people stand with cardboard signs begging for spare change? I doubt it and the significant contributions to local charities tells me that's not the case. Perhaps people aren't connecting the dots - between the house farms, the Mega-Stores and the high unemployment and working-poor? Guess I'll have to ask first to find out.
One thing I'm sure of. When the Mayor of London says "We need to do more to attract business to London" people should be very worried, grab their wallets and look out for new billboards and ribbon cuttings. This kind of short-sighted, jobs at any cost mentality has caused us to find ourselves where we currently are - talent leaves town, local farms sell to developers, people sit in their TV rooms wondering why crime is growing and Transit fares and Property Taxes are increasing.
Sounds like a challenge for a contrarian!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
New Blog New Purpose
Welcome to my new Blog! Hopefully you've found your way here via Twitter or Facebook or perhaps even through a random search of Blogs related to London Ontario.
Let me introduce myself and explain what the Blog's purpose will be.
My parents:
My parents immigrated to Canada from England in 1966. While others turned back after a short time, Harold and Janet Peters made a home in London Ontario, living for a time on Stanley Street where my older brother Adrian was born in 1967. My maternal grandparents eventually followed their only daughter and came to London in 1969.
My mother worked at the Toronto Dominion Bank at the corner of Dundas and Wellington Streets in the early years. She later became a Tupperware dealer and manager until the late 80's when she 'went back to school' and entered the world of Life Insurance and Investments eventually becoming a Certified Financial Planner. I'm very proud of my mother's commitment to lifelong learning.
Soon after arriving and working on various large commercial framing jobs, my father and grandfather formed the Home Doctor Inc.. The Home Doctor has an outstanding reputation in London Ontario and is now frequently referred to by the City of London's Heritage Preservation staff for heritage restoration work. My Dad is an outstanding craftsman and artisan and I've got a few pieces of furniture as evidence.
The Home Doctor worked predominantly in aluminum siding installation; in 1975 my grandfather founded the London Area Siding Contractors Association to combat what he saw as undue regulation by the City of London. So I come by it honestly. The Home Doctor continued to thrive, working on homes throughout the City and surrounding areas and in particular in the downtown, Old North and Old South areas of London. The progress of my Dad's work has been impressive; from aluminum siding to custom storm doors and windows to full additions and now as my father continues to learn and hone his craft, he's done a built-in Wine Cellars (for my former Economics Prof Dr. Parkin), to built-in Bookcases and Custom Kitchens. My Dad's truly is a find for owners of London's finer homes and someone homeowners can trust with their largest investment.
Me:
Born: St. Joseph’s Hospital, London Ontario,
October 1, 1971
Schools Attended:
Woodland Heights Public School, k-8
Westminster Secondary School, 1985-1991
University of Western Ontario, 1991-1993, 1997-1998
I was born and raised in London. I lived in Berkshire Village until early in Grade 9 when we moved to Rington Crescent, just behind the London Gospel Temple (no relation, just so you know where). I did an extra year of High School as I did not feel prepared to go to University, nor did I want to start at the age of 18. I also had dedicated a significant amount of time and energy to basketball and wanted to be a 'starter', which would only occur the year after our City Championship. I stayed and we performed beyond expectations, went 9 and 6, made the playoffs and I had a pretty good year personally. I also managed grades high enough to get into Western, which was the school of my choice for financial reasons as well as academic.
I enjoyed the first two years of University but took a fairly light course load. Unsure of what I wanted to ultimately pursue in life, I took 2 years off and moved into downtown London. I scraped by until in 1996, I returned to school with OSAP loans for the first time and had my best year. I finished my course work in May 1998. During that time I enjoyed some great relationships, made new friends and tried to become part of the London hipster/music scene (it exists.)
In September 1998, I was married to a woman I'd dated on-and-off since High School and that same month we moved to Toronto to pursue better career options. While we had a great friendship and generated lots of good memories, we separated in March 2005 and divorced one year later due to irreconcilable differences. After a great deal of introspection, counseling and the advice of others, I have accepted our failings and simply wish that we had waited longer before making such a substantial decision as marriage. We were 27 and 25 respectively and I now believe most people should wait until they are at least 30, particularly men. The man should always ask the woman to marry him too!
Career:
I have worked many jobs in my life. I began working at age 13, delivering Pennysavers and Seasonal Catalogues to residents in Berkshire Village. I was the student caretaker/groundskeeper at St. Michael’s And All Angel’s Anglican Church on Springbank Drive. At age 17, I worked as a Sailing Instructor at Boy Scouts London’s Lean-to-Sail Program at Lake Fanshawe, contributing back to a program that had given me many years of enjoyment. I worked for the London Tigers for 4 summers, both managing vehicle access and parking and selling tickets to the public. I started working in London’s Restaurants at Age 18 until I left in 1997.
In 1997 I became Manager of Promotions at CHRW Radio Western, eventually also taking over as Music Director. In September of 1998, at age 27, I moved to Toronto working first at Sam the Record Man’s on Yonge Street, then as a Camera Operator for an Animation studio.
In the spring of 1999 I followed my passion for politics and took a job at Toronto City Hall, where I began my work for Councillor Michael Walker. I progressed from entry-level Administrative Assistant to Constituency Assistant and eventually served as Executive Assistant between 2002 and 2005. Councillor Walker served as Chair of Administration Committee, Tenant Defence Sub-Committee and initiated a review of Campaign Finances based on a report that I authored on his behalf.
In early 2005 I left Councillor Walker’s office to take a position as Executive Assistant to first term Councillor Shelley Carroll. Soon after, Councillor Carroll was chosen to lead the City’s Works Committee, one of the most complex and demanding Committees of City Council. In 2006, I realized it was time for a bigger change and that I was ready to broaden my experience and perspective. In my time at City Hall developed a lasting impression and built many new friendships on all sides of the political spectrum. I believe I had a reputation as a straight shooter and someone with a high degree of integrity who served his bosses well (though I stand to be corrected!)
From late 2006 until August 2008, I served as Manager of Business Development for Skymeter Corporation. Skymeter’s GPS-based system provides a new way to finance roads and manage capacity, employing basic economic theory to transportation systems. My responsibilities included building a brand, a personal reputation, a network of industry contacts, assisting in the selection of a VP Business Development and providing strategic advice about the politics of road finance and approaches to government sales. Unfortunately due to lack of investment, time-to-market of such a ground-breaking, paradigm-shifting technology, I was laid off. I remained a consultant to Skymeter, attending the World Congress of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Association in New York City in November.
In early 2009, I worked on various short-term contracts as a Marketing consultant, including one for a Maryland company who made me an offer of employment as VP Marketing/Sales. Unfortunately, I could not accept due to US Visa rules and the uncertainty of getting a Visa. That has lead to a pursuit of freelance writing opportunities. In July 2009, I made a decision to return to London from Toronto. I am now hoping for a position with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Goals:
I am moving back to London after nearly 11 years in Toronto. I've had a great time here, made great friendships, enjoyed Toronto's great multi-cultural neighbourhoods, it's various attractions and the other benefits of living in a large City. Through my work I gained invaluable experiences and learned a great deal about Local Government as well as more about how the private sector operates. More specifically I understand the many challenges facing business, particularly those businesses that interact with government and new companies.
As much as I love it, Toronto has also run me down. I find it less hospitable than London, with vastly more distractions there seem to be less personal relationships. People are always on the go, always in a rush and overly scheduled. While I have found that great at the times that I was also in that mode, I have found it difficult to be single and meet the demands of Toronto living. My health is not good. I have lost about 20 pounds since my divorce 4 years ago, including significant muscle loss. I've let myself go. So a new fitness regime is definitely part of my plan. I may return to Toronto but I have many other options that I am going to pursue.
London offers so many recreational opportunities as well as a fairly tight-knit community, at least that's how I remember it. It's always possible to go out and see people you know or make time to go visit them. Unfortunately, I may need a car soon to get around from my parents house in Westmount where I'm landing for a short time until I am earning some money.
Career wise, I believe it is now time for me to return to London to see what kind of a difference I can make on my hometown. I want to engage Londoners in a new kind of local politics. I want to create linkages between the University of Western Ontario Local Government and Urban Development programs to re-imagine our City and create a medium-sized City of the future. If London acts boldly now, in partnership with the private sector, London can enjoy the kind of economic development advantages that it currently does in the years to come.
More political platform to follow. Please sign up, add as a favourite and I look forward to starting full bore on this Blog on Tuesday - my first full day back in London.
Let me introduce myself and explain what the Blog's purpose will be.
My parents:
My parents immigrated to Canada from England in 1966. While others turned back after a short time, Harold and Janet Peters made a home in London Ontario, living for a time on Stanley Street where my older brother Adrian was born in 1967. My maternal grandparents eventually followed their only daughter and came to London in 1969.
My mother worked at the Toronto Dominion Bank at the corner of Dundas and Wellington Streets in the early years. She later became a Tupperware dealer and manager until the late 80's when she 'went back to school' and entered the world of Life Insurance and Investments eventually becoming a Certified Financial Planner. I'm very proud of my mother's commitment to lifelong learning.
Soon after arriving and working on various large commercial framing jobs, my father and grandfather formed the Home Doctor Inc.. The Home Doctor has an outstanding reputation in London Ontario and is now frequently referred to by the City of London's Heritage Preservation staff for heritage restoration work. My Dad is an outstanding craftsman and artisan and I've got a few pieces of furniture as evidence.
The Home Doctor worked predominantly in aluminum siding installation; in 1975 my grandfather founded the London Area Siding Contractors Association to combat what he saw as undue regulation by the City of London. So I come by it honestly. The Home Doctor continued to thrive, working on homes throughout the City and surrounding areas and in particular in the downtown, Old North and Old South areas of London. The progress of my Dad's work has been impressive; from aluminum siding to custom storm doors and windows to full additions and now as my father continues to learn and hone his craft, he's done a built-in Wine Cellars (for my former Economics Prof Dr. Parkin), to built-in Bookcases and Custom Kitchens. My Dad's truly is a find for owners of London's finer homes and someone homeowners can trust with their largest investment.
Me:
Born: St. Joseph’s Hospital, London Ontario,
October 1, 1971
Schools Attended:
Woodland Heights Public School, k-8
Westminster Secondary School, 1985-1991
University of Western Ontario, 1991-1993, 1997-1998
I was born and raised in London. I lived in Berkshire Village until early in Grade 9 when we moved to Rington Crescent, just behind the London Gospel Temple (no relation, just so you know where). I did an extra year of High School as I did not feel prepared to go to University, nor did I want to start at the age of 18. I also had dedicated a significant amount of time and energy to basketball and wanted to be a 'starter', which would only occur the year after our City Championship. I stayed and we performed beyond expectations, went 9 and 6, made the playoffs and I had a pretty good year personally. I also managed grades high enough to get into Western, which was the school of my choice for financial reasons as well as academic.
I enjoyed the first two years of University but took a fairly light course load. Unsure of what I wanted to ultimately pursue in life, I took 2 years off and moved into downtown London. I scraped by until in 1996, I returned to school with OSAP loans for the first time and had my best year. I finished my course work in May 1998. During that time I enjoyed some great relationships, made new friends and tried to become part of the London hipster/music scene (it exists.)
In September 1998, I was married to a woman I'd dated on-and-off since High School and that same month we moved to Toronto to pursue better career options. While we had a great friendship and generated lots of good memories, we separated in March 2005 and divorced one year later due to irreconcilable differences. After a great deal of introspection, counseling and the advice of others, I have accepted our failings and simply wish that we had waited longer before making such a substantial decision as marriage. We were 27 and 25 respectively and I now believe most people should wait until they are at least 30, particularly men. The man should always ask the woman to marry him too!
Career:
I have worked many jobs in my life. I began working at age 13, delivering Pennysavers and Seasonal Catalogues to residents in Berkshire Village. I was the student caretaker/groundskeeper at St. Michael’s And All Angel’s Anglican Church on Springbank Drive. At age 17, I worked as a Sailing Instructor at Boy Scouts London’s Lean-to-Sail Program at Lake Fanshawe, contributing back to a program that had given me many years of enjoyment. I worked for the London Tigers for 4 summers, both managing vehicle access and parking and selling tickets to the public. I started working in London’s Restaurants at Age 18 until I left in 1997.
In 1997 I became Manager of Promotions at CHRW Radio Western, eventually also taking over as Music Director. In September of 1998, at age 27, I moved to Toronto working first at Sam the Record Man’s on Yonge Street, then as a Camera Operator for an Animation studio.
In the spring of 1999 I followed my passion for politics and took a job at Toronto City Hall, where I began my work for Councillor Michael Walker. I progressed from entry-level Administrative Assistant to Constituency Assistant and eventually served as Executive Assistant between 2002 and 2005. Councillor Walker served as Chair of Administration Committee, Tenant Defence Sub-Committee and initiated a review of Campaign Finances based on a report that I authored on his behalf.
In early 2005 I left Councillor Walker’s office to take a position as Executive Assistant to first term Councillor Shelley Carroll. Soon after, Councillor Carroll was chosen to lead the City’s Works Committee, one of the most complex and demanding Committees of City Council. In 2006, I realized it was time for a bigger change and that I was ready to broaden my experience and perspective. In my time at City Hall developed a lasting impression and built many new friendships on all sides of the political spectrum. I believe I had a reputation as a straight shooter and someone with a high degree of integrity who served his bosses well (though I stand to be corrected!)
From late 2006 until August 2008, I served as Manager of Business Development for Skymeter Corporation. Skymeter’s GPS-based system provides a new way to finance roads and manage capacity, employing basic economic theory to transportation systems. My responsibilities included building a brand, a personal reputation, a network of industry contacts, assisting in the selection of a VP Business Development and providing strategic advice about the politics of road finance and approaches to government sales. Unfortunately due to lack of investment, time-to-market of such a ground-breaking, paradigm-shifting technology, I was laid off. I remained a consultant to Skymeter, attending the World Congress of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Association in New York City in November.
In early 2009, I worked on various short-term contracts as a Marketing consultant, including one for a Maryland company who made me an offer of employment as VP Marketing/Sales. Unfortunately, I could not accept due to US Visa rules and the uncertainty of getting a Visa. That has lead to a pursuit of freelance writing opportunities. In July 2009, I made a decision to return to London from Toronto. I am now hoping for a position with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Goals:
I am moving back to London after nearly 11 years in Toronto. I've had a great time here, made great friendships, enjoyed Toronto's great multi-cultural neighbourhoods, it's various attractions and the other benefits of living in a large City. Through my work I gained invaluable experiences and learned a great deal about Local Government as well as more about how the private sector operates. More specifically I understand the many challenges facing business, particularly those businesses that interact with government and new companies.
As much as I love it, Toronto has also run me down. I find it less hospitable than London, with vastly more distractions there seem to be less personal relationships. People are always on the go, always in a rush and overly scheduled. While I have found that great at the times that I was also in that mode, I have found it difficult to be single and meet the demands of Toronto living. My health is not good. I have lost about 20 pounds since my divorce 4 years ago, including significant muscle loss. I've let myself go. So a new fitness regime is definitely part of my plan. I may return to Toronto but I have many other options that I am going to pursue.
London offers so many recreational opportunities as well as a fairly tight-knit community, at least that's how I remember it. It's always possible to go out and see people you know or make time to go visit them. Unfortunately, I may need a car soon to get around from my parents house in Westmount where I'm landing for a short time until I am earning some money.
Career wise, I believe it is now time for me to return to London to see what kind of a difference I can make on my hometown. I want to engage Londoners in a new kind of local politics. I want to create linkages between the University of Western Ontario Local Government and Urban Development programs to re-imagine our City and create a medium-sized City of the future. If London acts boldly now, in partnership with the private sector, London can enjoy the kind of economic development advantages that it currently does in the years to come.
More political platform to follow. Please sign up, add as a favourite and I look forward to starting full bore on this Blog on Tuesday - my first full day back in London.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
