Municipal Monitor Q1 2017 | Page 29

PHOTO Courtesy City of Brampton category and eighth in the infrastructure and city of the future categories .
Positioned at the vanguard of the knowledge-based economy , Brampton ’ s health-care and life science sector employs about 6,700 people . In October 2016 , the province announced funding for a new STEAM-focused university in Brampton . Sheridan College ’ s Davis Campus also recently launched the Davis Applied Engineering Centre and ABB Robotics Centre .
When hiring staff , Brampton seeks “ those people who want to be part of an organization that provides solutions for all of our neighbourhoods ,” says Schlange . Also , “ we have an inclusion and equity committee ; we ’ re always looking at how we can improve .”
“ Everybody pays for City Hall , yet not everybody feels welcome ,” Jeffrey says . “( Last ) year we celebrated Eid ; we invited all the imams and leaders of the community , and they had never all been in the same place together . We raised flags ( last ) year for communities that have never had their flag raised . To be perfectly honest , we ’ re breaking new ground every day .”
Online budget consultations and telephone town halls are among recent innovations . Extensive community engagement has fostered other new ideas . A Parks and Recreation visioning exercise showed “ a shift to a much more passive park setting where there ’ s a lot more walking and gathering ,” says Schlange . “ We ’ re constructing shelters
and washrooms , but at the same time we have a very rich heritage in sport and league sport , so we ’ re preserving that .”
Brampton ’ s places-of-worship policy seeks to ensure that faith communities have access to buildings . A second-unit policy responds to affordable housing needs by permitting additional units in some residences . Project Lighthouse is building crosscultural emergency communications networks , and Brampton nurtures richly diverse festivals and events .
“ We ’ ve engaged the business community and the religious community on a fireworks bylaw , because of the celebration of Diwali ,” Schlange adds . “ They wanted to host displays of their own . So we created a bylaw that provides a framework for fireworks without a permit .”
Throughout the summer , Brampton ’ s diverse citizens gather in the newly redeveloped downtown for live music , cultural festivals , a farmer ’ s market , movie nights , or to watch the Raptors , Blue Jays and TFC games on the big screen . Last summer , Garden Square hosted live Euro Cup games on the big screen and residents came together to support each national team . Thousands of Brampton ’ s Portuguese residents waved flags as their team won the final , and the City closed Main Street for a parade .
“ I ’ m really lucky : I lead a city that ’ s interesting and diverse and young and exciting , and I need to find ways to help them shine and achieve their goals ,” says Jeffrey . “ If we don ’ t find a way to engage our residents , we ’ re not getting the best .”
Markham ’ s mayor believes municipalities have a key role to play in Canada ’ s evolution .
“ As we approach Canada ’ s 150th birthday , we should consider the tremendous changes we ’ ve witnessed since our centennial celebrations in 1967 ,” Scarpitti says . “ In just 50 years , Canada has transformed into a diverse , successful country known around the world for its tolerance , civil liberties , kindness and peaceful nature .”
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