Candidate Name: Brandon Forder
Position Sought: Councillor
Email: bforder@gmail.com
Phone: (905) 464-0563
Bio:
Throughout his 30-year career in his family-owned business, Canadian Pet Connection, Brandon has always been passionate about being an active member of his community. Brandon has chaired and sponsored dozens of fundraisers and community events, spent three years as a Director for the Meaford Chamber of Commerce, is co-chair of the GBPP, was the Educational Director for BNI The Blue Mountains, was past Chair of the Oakville Small Business Network, and sponsors the Meaford Food Bank, among others.
Brandon is one of Canada’s most recognized names in companion animal nutrition and behaviour. Internationally, Brandon represents the face of a new generation of pet health professionals, leading the way for significant changes in the industry. Designing new models for efficiency in the workplace has led to momentous business growth, and Brandon’s company now employs more than a dozen Meaford and area residents.
Brandon is a loving and devoted family man. Living in Meaford and operating a local business here since 2017 with his wife and their three children, he is wholeheartedly passionate about serving his community. Brandon is committed to making Meaford a better place for current and future generations to come.
Explain your primary reasons for your decision to seek election to Meaford council:
Throughout the last few decades residing in the Oakville area, Brandon witnessed first-hand a quaint neighbourhood rapidly develop into thousands of acres of urban sprawl – especially on prime Ontario farmland. What was once a charming waterfront community bursting with nature soon turned into a metropolis filled with massive housing developments, towering skyscrapers, big-box plazas, and maddeningly congested roadways. Brandon’s beloved childhood town had lost any glimpse of what a small town community should look and feel like.
That’s why, in 2017, Brandon and his family moved their business to the beautiful town of Meaford; seeing it as the perfect place to raise their family, build their business, and make meaningful contributions to a community on the cusp of a pivotal development boom.
Through a strong vision for smart, calculated growth, Brandon intends to help the Municipality of Meaford retain the characteristics that make it a place of distinction for residents and visitors alike.
Brandon’s vision is to create cohesion between the public and the municipal government through proactive communication, intelligent planning, and supporting policies in the best interest of our community.
He believes firmly that the choices we make now set the tone for the future of our community.
In your view, what should be the top priorities for the council that is elected on October 24?
With the surge in growth expected in our community in the coming years, we need a diverse and astute Council that can make decisions for a stronger, smarter Meaford. Brandon believes that Meaford needs:
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A definitive vision that sets the standards for new developments
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Policies for smart, carefully planned growth compatible with our current infrastructure and small-town appeal
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A Council that will fight to protect our environment and natural resources
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Preservation of our community’s rich and diverse history
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Upheld standards for our Heritage Conservation District and more
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Increased amenities for our community’s most vulnerable demographics
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Increased vibrancy of our downtown core to attract more retail growth
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Systems in place to ensure Meaford’s less-dense districts like Annan, Leith, and Bognor receive equal support
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Promotion of Meaford as a place to work, live, and play
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Regulation of short-term rental properties to improve long term rental inventory
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Attainable housing
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Support for the growth of our essential agriculture and tourism industries
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Services and amenities that make Meaford a family-friendly community
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Bolstering Meaford’s pet-friendly status through appropriate pet amenities
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Modernization of outdated processes to improve efficiency
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Continued support of Meaford’s arts and culture programming
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Incentives and initiatives to revitalize our downtown core
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Proactively improve and maintain current infrastructure
Explain the role of councillor (or Mayor/Deputy Mayor) as you understand it.
A Municipal Councillor is a democratically elected representative for the residents in their community. A councillor’s role is to be a voice for the needs, desires, interests, and well-being of their community, while supporting smart decisions for the Municipality and its operations. A councillor should proactively work to improve processes, policies, networks, and communications, to create cohesion and collaboration between the municipality, residents, businesses, and local interest groups. This is an active role, not a passive one; a councillor needs to be an easily accessible and actively engaging participant in their community.
