Scarborough Renewal Mayoral Event

Posted by Kevin Manuel 
on Apr 21, 2015
 
John Tory Scarborough Renewal
 
 
 
 
Rotary Club of North Scarborough
Rota-Teller
Apr. 21, 2015
Special Meeting with Mayor John Tory regarding the Scarborough Renewal Campaign held at Centennial College
 
 
In attendance: over 160 Rotarians and Guests
 
 
Program: 
Mike Cooksey of the Scarborough Club welcomed all to the event and introduced Ann Buller, President and CEO of Centennial College.
 
Ann gave a rousing talk on the history of Centennial College and the future of the College as she sees it.
 
Dave Hardy of the North Scarborough Club provided information on the Scarborough Renewal Program development and on the new recommendations from the Program. He then introduced Mayor John Tory.
 
Mayor John Tory spoke about many things:
-       He thanked Rotary and all involved for their work in the creation of the Renewal Program and related Action Plan and urged us to continue.
-       He advised that Government is not the solution to such things but that individuals will make it work
-       He also advised that Government will have a role but will need encouragement from us to get their part done.
-       His role is to unite various parts of the City, not to pit them against each other
-       He further pushed his concept of Smart Track and also the Scarborough Subway.
-       As part of this effort he referred to the Federal Gov’t Budget Transit initiative
-       He praised the new Scarborough Business Association
-       He advised that he wants to bring jobs to Scarborough. He felt that development will follow transit and jobs will follow development. He committed to moving some City jobs to the Scarborough Area.
-       He praised the Renewal Campaign
-       He advised that he is reviewing tax tools that the City has to attract business to Toronto and to Scarborough
-       He praised the Renewal’s initiative to rebrand Scarborough and applauded the “Food branding” concept, and felt that it was the first step in rebranding Toronto itself.
-       He referred to the Austin Music Festival which started in a similar way as the proposed Scarborough Music plan
-       He raised concerns regarding Youth Unemployment and felt that education was an important step leading to employment.
-       He felt the biggest Toronto issue is the employment and Wealth gap and felt that dealing with this is a business and moral imperative. Immigrants are seen as crucial to the process.
-       He felt that this effort, with the support of Rotary, will help achieve this and offered his leadership assistance and requested we advise him of the top three issues we need his assistance with.
 
 
Mayor Tory was thanked by Mike Cooksey for his presentation who invited all to partake in the fine beverages and food presented by the College Students.
 
 
 
 
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