Mayor's Remarks at 2012 New Year's Levee (Jan 1)
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Speaking Notes for
Her Worship Mayor Susan Fennell
On the occasion of
The 2012 Mayor’s New Year’s Levee
January 1, 2012
The Rose Theatre Brampton
12:00 pm
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Happy New Year Brampton!
It’s great to see so many residents here today at our beautiful Rose Theatre, as we join together to celebrate the New Year and all the wonderful things that 2012 has in store.
For those of you who were in Garden Square last night – did you enjoy our glow-themed New Year’s Eve celebration? It was an incredible evening with some great music by Bedouin Soundclash and Thornley.
Members of Council, honoured guests, families and friends, ladies and gentlemen…
With each New Year comes the opportunity to celebrate the successes of the past, and reflect upon where we’re going as a community.
We owe it to you, our residents, to build a strong city: a city that is not only an important and strategic location in the GTA, but also one of Canada’s key economic engines for years to come.
As we greet the New Year, I am ready to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead for this great city.
Let us first look back on 2011, where we reflect on what has been accomplished over the past year.
As the first full year of a new 4-year term following the 2010 election, Bramptonians were witness to a number of milestones.
2011 saw the successful approval of 2 budgets, including our 2012 budget passed by Council, unanimously, just a few weeks ago.
The budgets reflected this Council’s fiscal leadership and respect for taxpayers, while implementing a number of successful initiatives such as our $1 transit fare for Brampton seniors.
2011 was also a successful year with respect to a number of strategic decisions made by Council:
* We came through on our commitment to hire an integrity commissioner;
* We partnered with other levels of government to refresh Chinguacousy Park and complete the first phase of the Mount Pleasant Village, which includes an elementary school, public library, public square and transit connection to the Mount Pleasant Go station;
* Our hugely successful Zum bus rapid transit began service along Main St, from Sandalwood in the North to Mississauga City Centre in the South;
* We saw the opening of an environment-friendly fire hall in West Brampton, which uses rain water for things like washing the fire trucks;
And, of course, we are getting things done for our downtown, by approving the redevelopment of the Southwest Quadrant – a key investment in our historic downtown.
2011 also saw Brampton play host to the world on a number of occasions:
* We were a host city during the hugely successful IIFA Awards;
* We hosted the first ever Toronto International Film Festival event outside Toronto with the Premier of Breakaway, starring Brampton’s own Russell Peters and;
* We played host to TigerFEST, which drew tens of thousands of people during our 2011 Brampton Day festivities.
As we look forward to 2012, we will continue to get things done for Brampton residents.
By all accounts, the economy will continue to be sluggish this year, but we are well positioned.
We have already made a number of strategic decisions which will see the completion of the Bram-East Community Centre and the commencement of our new Steeles line for our Zum service.
This Council is prepared for the challenges ahead.
We will roll up our sleeves and work together to get things done for Brampton residents.
I have always prided myself on getting things done for my community; for being as accessible as possible; and for open and transparent leadership.
This year, I will continue to get things done by making a new strategic plan my top priority.
A plan that will be built based on a broad Community Engagement process.
We will listen to you to ensure your Council works together to meet the priorities of Brampton residents and businesses.
We were one of the first municipalities to undertake a public strategic planning exercise, and we are now ready to embark on the next phase of city-building, with a focus on engaging our diverse and vibrant communities as a foundation.
We will take the next step in building our Strategic vision for our City for the next 20 years.
We will work together to determine what Brampton will look like.
What types of jobs we will attract.
What new businesses we want moving into our city.
I will listen to all of you and then go out and get them.
Our new strategic vision will build upon the foundations of previous plans, particularly the most recent one, the 2003 Six Pillars Supporting our Great City.
It will reflect what Brampton’s residents, businesses and other groups tell us throughout the community engagement process.
The five key priority areas I believe we must focus on are:
* Economic growth and prosperity
* Environmental stewardship
* Community spirit
* Cultural vitality, and
* Corporate excellence
In developing our vision, the City will fully engage our community in the process and ensure that there is extensive opportunity for public consultation across the city.
That’s because I know that Brampton’s cultural, political, business and thought leaders aren’t limited to City Hall.
It’s because of community engagement that we have Züm, our bus rapid transit that has led to Brampton becoming a leader in the area of public transportation.
We will engage our entrepreneurs, who are our risk-takers and job creators, on what their needs are, as they continue to make Brampton their home and place of business.
We will listen to the leaders of our faith communities, who strive to conquer divisiveness through preaching the virtues of family, community, tolerance and love.
We are a city that isn’t afraid to dream big.
Dreaming big is what got us the Rose Theatre.
Dreaming big is why we’ll soon be opening BramEast Park – the city’s largest park space, complete with a library, recreation centre, festival space, and kabaddi and cricket stadium.
But, big dreams need big plans.
That’s why it’s so important that we undertake this community engagement strategic plan now; so that today’s dreams can become tomorrow’s reality!
We have always maintained a strong sense of community, and Brampton families and businesses have always demonstrated a strong desire to express their opinions.
The City of Brampton has already been engaging residents and businesses through a number of projects and initiatives that will play a role in developing the strategic plan.
Examples of these projects include:
* Environmental, growth management, and transportation master plans,
* Annual budget development,
* A commitment to Heritage Arts Culture and Entertainment, or HACE roundtables with a five-year economic development plan to develop a creative economy;
* A Brampton Creative Economy Summit at the Rose Theatre in February 2012;
* And extensive Flower City consultations.
Although community engagement is an on-going theme at the City of Brampton, it is time to bring all residents and businesses together to help create a framework for the next 20 years.
That’s why I want to hear from all of you about your vision for our city.
I invite everyone to help shape our future.
We want our strategic plan to be a true reflection of the priorities of Bramptonians.
We will deliver a “Made in Brampton” strategic plan that celebrates our heritage, embraces our diversity, and sets our community on a course for continued success.
You’ve often heard me say that when good citizens meet good government, good cities become great.
As our city continues to grow and evolve, I know Bramptonians across the city have a keen interest in the success and development of Brampton.
This is your chance to steer the future of our city, to be strategic in planning a new economy, and to build a great city in which to live, work, play and pray.
Let us build a city that enables business to thrive.
Let us build a city where all residents can celebrate their history, culture, heritage and traditions.
Let us build a city that is the envy of the world.
Let us, together, build Our Brampton.
Before I conclude my remarks this afternoon, I am honoured to be joined by and introduce a special group of young men to you.
These men are members of our Lorne Scots who recently completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
They are proud residents of Brampton – and we are so glad to welcome them home safe and sound.
Please hold your applause until the end, as I ask them to stand and be recognized:
* Corporal Stephen Bostock
* Master Corporal Cristopher Brown
* Lieutenant Russell Cook
* Warrant Officer Marc Diotte
* Corporal Rhudi Haase
* Sergeant Eric Scott
* Master Corporal Winslow Taylor
* Master Corporal Devin Turner and,
* Master Corporal Kwaku Wiafe
A heartfelt thank you to these men, our newest veterans, and indeed to all our veterans, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of our great city and our country.
I would also like to congratulate the Lorne Scots on their 145th anniversary, which we celebrated during the 2011 Remembrance Day service.
And, as part of our New Year’s Levee tradition, we must recognize the members of the Lorne Scots Pipes and Drums and the Brampton Concert Band for entertaining us this afternoon.
I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of the Knights of Columbus Honour Guard, the Air, Sea and Army Cadets, members of the Community Emergency Response Volunteers, Rose Theatre staff and volunteers, and the members of the Mayor’s Youth Team.
Thank you for all the countless hours that you spend in service to our community. You help make Brampton such a great place.
Once again, I’d like to wish each of you here today, and every Bramptonian, a very happy, healthy and safe 2012.
Thank you.
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