Recently, the OLIP interns had the opportunity to meet the Mayor of Brampton, Mr. Patrick Brown. Reflecting on his long career in politics, which began when he was elected to Barrie City Council at the age of 22, Mayor Brown drew on his wealth of experience in sharing insights with us.
Mayor Brown has had the unique experience of holding elected office at all three levels of government. His career has taught him that the ability to successfully engage the public and address issues pertinent to individuals is a transferable skillset across the municipal, provincial and federal governments. Mayor Brown expressed how the work culture in municipal politics is significantly different from provincial or federal politics as there are no political parties at the local level. He mentioned how this has facilitated collaboration among city councillors stating that “there is no monopoly on good ideas.”
In his various positions throughout his career, he has been able to see the tangible impacts of his efforts to serve local communities and this has been a rewarding process. As Mayor of Brampton, he recounted the numerous challenges the city faced as a result of COVID-19 and how the resilience of Brampton residents and city council’s initiatives aided in mitigating the impact of the pandemic.
We want to thank Mayor Brown for taking the time to speak with us. The interns are grateful for his thoughtful advice.