Joe Mihevc has served as Councillor for the former City of York and now the new City of Toronto for the last eighteen years, bringing his deep concern for social issues in advocating for stronger neighborhoods, healthy communities, clean environment and safe streets.
With a Ph.D. in theology and social ethics, Councillor Mihevc has served in a variety of capacities that have allowed him to demonstrate his concerns for democratic, accessible and responsible government.
As a City Councillor in York, and now Toronto, his accomplishments in the community include building the new Artscape Wychwood Barns and Park, the Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre, the creation of Roseneath Park, convincing City Council to adopt a City-wide Ravine protection by-law and a City-wide regulation of drive-thrus in mixed residential-commercial areas, saving the historic Peter Witt streetcar, securing a home for the heritage Tollkeeper's Cottage and the restoration of the historic Connaught Gates. Councillor Mihevc oversaw the redevelopment of the Maria A. Schkuka library branch, which also included the construction of more than 60 units of affordable housing.
As Vice-Chair of the TTC, Joe Mihevc has lead the way on key projects to improve public transit in Toronto. Councillor Mihevc has provided important leadership to the St. Clair transit improvement project, which will be completed in 2010 and will provide fast, reliable transit to St. Clair residents as well as significant improvements to the public realm. Joe Mihevc also lead the charge at the TTC to replace the aging fleet of streetcars with new, modern Light Rail Vehicles to be manufactured by Bombardier in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
As Chair of the Board of Health from 2000 to 2003, Joe Mihevc led the implementation of the green-yellow-red restaurant disclosure system and the smoking by-law, the adoption of a pesticide by-law, invested in control measures to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus and managed the SARS outbreak.
Joe Mihevc has also chaired the City's Community Development and Recreation Committee, Community Services Committee, the Roundtable on Access, Equity and Human Rights, the Disability Issues Committee and the Ethics Steering Committee.
Currently, Councillor Mihevc is Vice-Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission and City Council's liaison to the Caribana Festival (1997- present). He is also a member of the Executive Committee, Budget Committee and Community Development & Recreation Committee.
