Councillor Gary Crawford

Scarborough Southwest

Staff

Profile

Gary Crawford is currently serving his third term as a Toronto City Councillor for the newly expanded Ward 20. He is recognized as a respected leader and consensus builder by his Councillor colleagues. He has been appointed by Council, for a second term, as Budget Chair and as a member of the Mayor’s Executive Committee.

Additionally, Gary currently serves on the Civic Appointments Committee, the Debenture Committee, Special Committee on Governance, Striking Committee, Toronto Arts Council, and Scarborough Community Council. He is also the Mayor’s designate and Vice-Chair of the new TOLive Board of Directors.

Gary’s commitment and deep understanding of the City, its Agencies and fiscal governance, has provided him the unique opportunity to investigate and give direction on how the City can operate more fairly and efficiently. He is a powerful advocate for innovative change in how Municipal Government operates, and his advocacy for multi-year long term planning has created a solid foundation for improvement.

Gary’s proven ability and skills to work with people from a broad array of political backgrounds is an excellent foundation for the consensus building required for effective decision making at Council. His sound, balanced approach and capacity to bridge common goals has earned him the respect of his peers at Council and the many Boards and Committees he participates on.

Throughout his tenure, Gary has served on a myriad of committees including Budget, Planning and Growth, Economic Development and the Executive Committee. He also served on City Boards and Agencies including East Metro Youth Centre, Sony Centre for the Performing Arts (as Interim Chair), Harbourfront Centre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Performing Arts, the Toronto Centre for the Arts, the Toronto Arts Council, Artscape, Gardiner Museum, Young Peoples Theatre and Canadian Stage. He has chaired the Mayor’s Task Force on the Arts, the Theatres Working Group and Co-chaired the Film Board. As a City Councillor with an impressive scope of experience, Gary is an invaluable asset on Council, for the City, and for his residents.

Gary continues to be a passionate advocate for arts and culture and was instrumental in historic funding increases for the arts. He led a process to amalgamate the three Civic Theatres to create a world class, seven stage, multi-arts centre that provides a full range of TO Live performing arts, theatrical and concert events. Gary is also a professional artist and musician who utilizes his creative strengths to problem solve at the City and in Scarborough Southwest.

Public service has always been an important goal for Gary Crawford. His outstanding work ethic and his commitment to getting things done is evident. He wakes with the sunrise and is known for hosting and participating in an outstanding number of weeknight and weekend community meetings and events.

Gary moved to Scarborough Southwest to raise his family because of its great schools, unique neighbourhoods, good friends and strong sense of community. He actively supports local business and he is committed to promoting “shop local” campaigns to help drive the local economic engine. His work with local business’ and the Director of Economic Development helped to secure funding for an emerging BIA program available to the Cliffside Community in Ward 20.

Previous to City Council, Gary served seven years as a Trustee for the Toronto District School Board, supporting students and their families in Scarborough Southwest. His experience included appointments as Co-chair of the Board, Chair of Facilities Management and Chair of Negotiations.

Gary is passionate about his Ward 20 Community and the City of Toronto. With his leadership, Scarborough Southwest has a visible and important presence at City Hall.

(information provided by the Councillor)

Publications

Coalition for Music Education in Canada Newsletter, published in March 2006
Guitars, Not Gangs – Music Education and Reaching At-Risk Youth
Illustrated the United Church Creed, “We Are Not Alone, We Live in God’s World,” published in 1998, second printing 2007, with over 15,000 copies sold

Committees & Boards

Budget Committee, Chair

Striking Committee

Civic Appointments Committee, Chair

Scarborough Community Council

Board of Directors of TO Live, as the Mayor’s designate

Exhibition Place Board of Governors, Chair and the Mayor’s designate

Debenture Committee

Artscape Toronto

Toronto Arts Council

Business Improvement Areas

Crossroads of the Danforth BIA