Ontario Government Honours Councillor Bernie MacDonald
Ward 3 Councillor Bernie MacDonald is the recipient of a 25-year Long-Standing Service Award presented November 25 by Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Jim Watson. The tribute took place at the 2009 Ontario West Municipal Conference being held in partnership with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
"This recognition is a proud event for us all," says Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best. "We thank Councillor MacDonald for his long and outstanding commitment to our community. He's been a dedicated advocate not only for his constituency but also the citizens of London. On a national scale, he has contributed through his participation on the Board and several Committees of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities."
Achievement highlights noted in the award nomination submitted by the City Clerk's Office included MacDonald's efforts in the areas of healthy living, safety and security. Examples given were his lead in the campaign to control the damaging impact of urban graffiti and the introduction of London’s position on the harm of smoking in motor vehicles with children present.
The nomination also referenced MacDonald's championing of the North London Optimist Community Centre. "Helping people" is how MacDonald sums up the motivation and reward of his political life.
"It's all about getting ward residents set on the right route to get their needs answered or concerns addressed." He also acknowledges, "It's great to have played some part in London's development. When I was first elected to office in 1980, the population was only about a quarter of a million and the tallest downtown building just 12 stories high. Today we've got an impressive city skyline and the number of our residents has grown to almost 400,000.
" Introduced in 2006 to pay tribute to the spirit and dedication of municipal politicians, the Provincial awards are conferred annually at regional conferences. In making the November 25 presentation, Watson said: “The Long-Standing Service Award represents a true testament of the commitment shown by locally elected officials to their communities. I want to thank Councillor Bernie MacDonald for his personal commitment, strong dedication, and public service to his community and the City of London.”
