Celebrate Vaughan 2016 | Page 9

[ OUR CITY ] LEADING FROM THE HEART MAYOR'S STRONG LEADERSHIP SERVES CITY WELL With many wins under his belt which include strong economic growth, a world-class hospital, a subway, a visionary plan for a downtown core, a city ranking among the best in Canada, one of the safest communities in North America, a professional soccer team, as well as citizens who are happy to live in a city that strives for excellence, Maurizio Bevilacqua looks to the future with confidence and optimism. In him, the residents have found a leader who has inspired civic pride. The great Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” If he were alive today, we could tell Dr. King that our Mayor, Maurizio Bevilacqua was the embodiment of those exact words. A leader is not a leader until he/she is called into being by the people who are ready to be led, and six years ago, the people overwhelmingly voted for their Mayor of choice. Two years ago they renewed their faith in that same leader, Maurizio Bevilacqua, by giving him a resounding vote of confidence as a way to once again express their trust and confidence in his leadership. ant, but he is still passionate as ever, he is open and approachable. Each person who recognizes him and takes time to greet him is met with the same friendliness they extend him. But make no mistake, this friendly demeanor is balanced by a deep desire and determination to compete and win for his city, your city. He is a very disciplined individual who is focused on his agenda. People who work with him will tell you that his days are packed with meetings, briefing sessions, events, community outreach and active promotion of the city. He often works seven days a week, ensuring that the needs of the citizens are met. Known as the people’s Mayor, he is a person full of optimism, of hope and serves his constituents with gratitude and passion. Gone are the days of petty gamesmanship and weak leadership. Rather Vaughan has undergone a complete transformation resulting in a city standing tall in its own right – significantly investing in transit, generating jobs, encouraging economic growth while keeping taxes low and providing an exceptional quality of life for its citizens. The Mayor brings a wealth of political experience winning 10 consecutive election campaigns. At the federal level, he had a long reign as Chair of the Commons Finance Committee during a tough and a very difficult period for the Canadian economy. Many of his recommendations were implemented in the federal budgets, which brought about Canada’s economic renaissance. As we sat in a local coffee shop, sharing a cup of tea, Mayor Bevilacqua tells me his role as Mayor is one that is fulfilling and rewarding. There is a calm confidence about him that makes it easy to engage in conversation. His style is still more understated than flamboy- “I was elected based upon an agenda for change. Politics is not difficult when it is purpose driven. All my actions are aligned with my values, principles and beliefs. I am motivated by public service – it is a calling.” Bevilacqua has established an impresive network with all levels of government and continues to promote Vaughan as a world-class city. Of note is his close relationship with Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca who he considers a “close and trusted” friend. PowerStream President and CEO Brian Bentz with whom he has worked closely with as Chair of the PowerStream board, says, “His servant leadership style is not only based on the concept of serving others, it is also based on humility. He believes that each of us can realize our potential if we see life through a different lens – one of helping others through humble service. His message has been truly inspiring.” Bentz and Bevilacqua’s mutual respect and admiration has been in full display most recently during the journey of the mega merger of three major utilities in the province of Ontario. Once approved, it will be the second largest electricity distribution company in the province. An impressive achievement. It was Bill Gates who once said, “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” It is also a philosophy that Mayor Bevilacqua embraces. “I have been blessed to have a very supportive Council, administration and staff that is focused and disciplined where everyone makes a contribution to city building. These are people who care about public service and work very hard to achieve positive results for the citizens of Vaughan.” Still true for Mayor Bevilacqua today as it was in 2010, “Public service as a vocation is less about the title and 2016 \ Celebrate Vaughan 9