Mr. Ootes graduated from York University with a Masters in Business Administration and had a distinguished management career with Imperial Oil, serving in such positions as Corporate Credit Manager and Manager of Accounting Services.

Mr. Ootes entered municipal politics as an East York Councillor in 1988. He was elected to Metro Council in 1994 and to the newly amalgamated City of Toronto in 1997. He was appointed as the first Deputy Mayor of Toronto and held this position for six years. He has served, and continues to serve, on many Committees, Agencies, Boards and Commissions. He currently sits on the Toronto and East York Community Council and the Economic Development Committee. He also sits on many local boards, such as Greektown on the Danforth BIA, the Danforth BIA, the Pape Village BIA, the Danforth Mosaic BIA, the Don Valley Brickworks Advisory Committee and the East York Community Centre Advisory Board.

Present committees and agencies:

• Toronto and East York Community Council
• Economic Development Committee
• East York Community Centre Advisory Board
• Danforth (The) BIA, Board of Management
• Danforth Mosaic BIA, Board of Management
• Greektown on the Danforth BIA, Board of Management
• Pape Village BIA, Board of Management
• Seneca College, Executive in Residence
• Toronto Business Development Centre Board of Directors
• Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance Board of Directors
• Don Valley Brick Works Advisory Committee

• Planning and Transportation Committee
• Labour Relations Advisory Panel, Chair, City of Toronto
• Striking Committee, Chair, City of Toronto
• Telecommunications Steering Committee, Chair, City of Toronto
• Policy and Finance Committee, Chair, Ex-Officio, City of Toronto
• Toronto Hydro Corporation, Board Member
• Provincial Central Smart Growth Panel and Traffic Gridlock Sub-Panel, Member
• Ontario Regional Chairs Board, Member
• Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Commissioner
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Board Member
• Toronto East General Hospital, Board Member
• GO Transit, Board Member
• Greater Toronto Services Board (GTSB), Board Member
• Provincial Central Smart Growth Panel
• Toronto Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO), Board Member
• Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), Board Member
• Toronto Financial Service Alliance, Chair
• East York Kiwanis, President