Collaboration has fallen by the wayside to the detriment of politics at all levels, says a former Collingwood politician.
For this week’s edition of People of Collingwood we sat down with Terry Geddes, a prominent community member who served as mayor of Collingwood from 1997-2006.
Q: Can you please provide your background for people who maybe don’t know you, or are new to the area?
A: My father was killed in the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) and I moved to Collingwood when I was in Grade 2. My family has lived in the county since 1840. I’m very proud of Simcoe County and particularly proud of Collingwood. I have a wonderful wife and two kids, and four grandkids. I had the pleasure of growing up in Collingwood and being mentored by a ton of Second World War veterans. I think they were the greatest generation ever in terms of what they were able to contribute and give back. They taught us a lot of things in life. Your word being everything.
I went to WLU (Wilfred Laurier University). I took political science, physical education and history. I came back and taught in Collingwood... I became a principal at the Simcoe County District School Board. I was vice principal at Connaught (Public School), principal at Mountain View (Elementary School). I also had other responsibilities at the county (level), and at Admiral Collingwood.
In politics, I prided myself in being heavily involved in community service, whether it was junior hockey, minor hockey, the library board, festivals, you name it. I got, what I believe to be, a lot of good training there aside from being a principal in leadership and a strong sense of community.
I’m a firm believer in community and harmony within a community... respect for the opinions of others, even if you don’t agree with them.
I was elected in 1994 and served on council for three years. I ran for mayor in 1997 and had a really close campaign and was lucky enough to win.
I served as mayor for nine years. I was acclaimed in my last term, which told me it was time to leave. (laughs) I’ve always been a firm believer that you are replaceable no matter what. New ideas and new blood are good things. Sometimes I think politicians can stay too long. I’m a firm believer in youth. To me, the more youth we see in government, the better. I think a lot of our youth bring tremendous ideas, and we need to bring that in.
I was Warden of Simcoe County in 2006. Federally, I had an appointment on the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority for 11 years, I was a director. I’ve always stayed active politically at the federal and provincial level, but not in Collingwood.
I’m a bit of a firm believer that, when you’re done, you’re done.
Q: What made you want to run for Collingwood council in the first place back in 1994?
A: That’s an excellent question.
We had an A-frame sign issue in the town. And it seemed like council spent the whole year fighting over an A-frame sign issue. To me, I wasn’t seeing concrete things being done. When I talk about concrete things, I mean, a council in their term should have given something back to the municipality.
There was a lot of debate over something as simple as A-frame signs on the street.
So I decided I wanted to get involved in this and give us a more positive direction. I ran for council and was fortunate enough to get elected.
I’ve always had that passion for the community and saw council as one way of carrying that on.
Q: What would you say was your biggest accomplishment while on council?
A: Can I also tell you my least?
Q: Yes!
A: My biggest accomplishment was, and I need to stress this to you, the ability to realize that there are people out there who are smarter than me. I surrounded myself with people who are smarter than me. I surrounded myself with community champions. If you look at the things we were able to do in those nine years, I was lucky enough to be the facilitator of their compassion and their commitment to get things done. Whether it was the cenotaph, the trail system... the real biggie which was always near and dear to my heart was us being the third municipality in Canada to pass the smoking bylaw, to focus on bringing Pride to Collingwood.
In 2006, we were 11th in Canada in MoneySense magazine. (Best places to live in Canada rankings) That came from community involvement. I’m firm believer that the more involved your citizens are, the better your town becomes. That’s not an apple pie statement, that’s a fact.
Heritage Way which is out by Millennium Park, and the building of Millennium Park... that was all championed by citizens. The town drove itself by the citizenry.
My most disappointing failure is not being able to deliver on a multi-use building.
The multi-use building would have had two ice rinks, pools, a recreation centre and the library. We were doing all that out by the soccer fields. In a tumultuous year we were doing all that. To this day, it bothers me.
I see that we tried hard. But when our kids travel to other municipalities and see the multi-uses that other towns have... the most important thing about a multi-use facility is one word: family.
We lost that. Our recreation facilities are in silos. I really hope the day comes that we have an opportunity to start a reserve fund to look at it. I think the present facilities have a limited life.
I’m not afraid to talk about failure.
Something else I’m extremely proud of, is in 2004 the mayor of Chicago, Mayor (Richard) Daley called a meeting of any mayors who were interested in the Great Lakes, to save the Great Lakes from invasive species. I was very fortunate to be selected to serve on the executive team. I was the secretary treasurer for that. Out of that came the Great Lakes Cities Initiative. We were able to do really good things attempting to save the lakes.
Q: What have you been doing since 2006?
A: I work in the consulting business. My main client is the Cortel Group. We build homes and towers. Two brothers own the company. We’re very much in the environmental business. That group is all about community. I’m a firm believer that is a developer is going to come into a municipality and make a good living off that municipality, they should also be leaving something concrete in that municipality.
I also had my federal appointment (with the Great Lakes).
The other thing I do for connection, is I work with Burl’s Creek. I help them out in any way I can. I really enjoy that because it’s more kid-oriented.
Q: Had politics changed much in Collingwood since 1994? How?
A: I’ve seen politics go from a situation with my council where we would beat the heck out of each other at the table. We wouldn’t take it personally. Then we would go and get together afterwards and talk about anything but politics. There was a sense of respect for the point of view of the other person.
I don’t see that anymore. I don’t see that in a lot of politics, period.
When you look to the south and what’s going on there... I look at social media and the ability to massacre someone’s reputation without giving the other person an opportunity to tell their side of the story.
I would see politics in tremendous decline in terms of respect for the individual. In my opinion, it’s being driven now more by, what’s my personal agenda, rather than what’s the agenda for the community.
If a politician can stand up for the community and what’s best for the community... I’m all about that.
I also see special interest groups. They do have an important place in our society, but they themselves don’t have the right to be so vindictive.
The hospital issue is a perfect example in Collingwood. I can’t believe the vindictiveness I’ve seen over that. It truly troubles me.
We all have to live in the same town. So, when you’re shooting at somebody you have to remember that that person has a family and friends. Also, before you start shooting, make sure you know the true story.
I personally think the hospital issue got off board. Council and the hospital board should have got together in the same room, brought in a person from the health ministry, who would have said to them, “To build a hospital takes 10 to 20 years, and there’s a process you have to go through with planning, fundraising, etc.”
When it comes to a hospital, the province always looks for some kind of private benefactor too. I would, if I were them. You’ve gotta have that community support.
What we’ve done over the hospital issue in Collingwood is we’ve said to the province that we’re split all over the place. If we’d all got together in the same room in the first place and shared that unified vision, it would have worked that way.
Council has a firm responsibility to make sure the planning act is followed. People need to understand that. The hospital board also has a firm responsibility to make sure they get the best possible hospital built for Collingwood. There was no live person from the ministry of health invited to those meetings who could explain how to do this.
They also needed to bring in the county because they are the ultimate planning authority for Collingwood.
The best way to get things done is to bring everyone into a room together, say, ‘This is our common goal,’ get everything off your chest that’s bugging you, and come up with a unified effort.
I feel a little strongly about this.
Q: Do you ever miss being on council?
A: There are times when I really miss being on council. There are times when I’m on the other side of the table now, over the last 10 years, there are things I would have loved to be able to do when I was in the mayor’s chair, things I would have wanted to ask. I miss the interactions with people... seeing champions take ideas and run with them.
There’s nothing more exciting than that. I can name a champion for everything we’ve done in Collingwood.
Q: How do you feel about the direction council has gone?
A: I think council has fulfilled their responsibility to ensure that the rules and regulations under the Municipal Act are being followed.
Q: Would you ever consider returning to politics? Even federally or provincially?
A: No. I’ve had people mention that to me. I was lucky enough to be mayor for nine years. I’m a firm believer that there are others that can do a better job.
I’m a supporter of our MPP Jim Wilson, and have been for many years. One of my goals is to have the parkway renamed the Jim Wilson Parkway. It was his brain back then, I think in 1997/98, to push that.
My greatest opportunity right now is to be a good grandpa.
Q: What makes Collingwood special to you?
A: The people. The love of the community. Having grown up here, I’ve built a bond with the people. I welcome new people. As new people come in, I think they have a responsibility to remember one thing.
We became a great town because of grassroots individuals that live here. They built the town. New ideas and people are great, but never disrespect the person who created the town.
For our feature People of Collingwood, we’ll be speaking with interesting people who are either from or are contributing to the Collingwood community in some way. This feature will run on CollingwoodToday every Saturday. If you’d like to nominate or suggest someone to be featured in People of Collingwood, email [email protected].
