Nine Council Members. Nine Community Champions. One Stronger Bradford.
A new approach to BWG leadership, collaboration and community engagement.
What if every member of Bradford West Gwillimbury Council became a dedicated & passionate champion for an important part of our community?
Not another committee.
Not another layer of government.
Not another expense for taxpayers.
Just nine elected representatives taking on additional responsibility to ensure that the people, organizations, industries and institutions that make Bradford special have a stronger connection to Town Hall.
That’s the idea behind my proposal for a Council Community Champions Initiative.
A Council That Works Together, With Purpose
Bradford West Gwillimbury is growing, changing and becoming more diverse in its needs.
We have young families, students, seniors, entrepreneurs, farmers, manufacturers, artists, volunteers, community organizations and generations of residents who have helped build this town.
Each of these groups contributes something important to Bradford’s identity and future.
But as our municipality grows, we must ensure that these voices don’t get lost among budgets, planning applications, infrastructure projects and the day-to-day business of running a municipality.
I believe we can do better.
My proposal is simple: Give each of our nine elected Council members an opportunity to become a Community Champion for one specific area of focus.
Every Councillor would continue to represent their constituents and the entire community. Every Councillor would remain responsible for reviewing municipal decisions, managing taxpayer dollars and helping shape Bradford’s future.
However, each would also take a deeper interest in one particular area.
They would become a recognizable point of connection, helping to understand challenges, identify opportunities, build relationships and bring important perspectives back to Council.
This isn’t about dividing Council into nine separate departments.
It’s about bringing nine areas of community knowledge together around one Council table.
My Proposed Nine Community Champions
1. Youth & Schools Champion
Giving the next generation a stronger voice.
Our young people are Bradford’s future, but they are also an important part of our community today.
This Champion would focus on strengthening relationships with local schools, parent councils, student leaders, youth organizations and education partners.
Priorities could include youth engagement, recreation opportunities, leadership development, school-community partnerships and creating more opportunities for young people to contribute to Bradford’s future.
I would particularly like to see more meaningful opportunities for students to engage directly with municipal government.
2. Seniors Champion
Respecting the generations who helped build our community.
Our seniors have contributed decades of work, volunteerism, family life and community leadership.
They deserve more than recognition. They deserve a meaningful voice.
This Champion would help strengthen relationships with seniors, retirement communities, caregivers and local organizations.
Their focus would include accessibility, transportation, recreation, social connection, aging in place and opportunities for seniors to remain active participants in community life.
This portfolio would also complement my proposal to explore establishing a Seniors Advisory Committee.
3. Recreation Champion
Making Bradford a better place to play, compete and stay active.
Recreation is about more than sports facilities.
It’s about healthy families, stronger neighbourhoods, community connections and opportunities for residents of every age and ability.
This Champion would work to understand the needs of local sports associations, recreational organizations, facility users and residents.
They could help identify opportunities to maximize existing facilities, strengthen partnerships and improve access to recreation.
4. Business Development & Marketing Bradford Champion
Promoting Bradford as a place to invest, work and do business.
One of my priorities has consistently been strengthening Bradford’s commercial, industrial and institutional tax base.
We need more local employment opportunities, more investment and a stronger daytime economy.
This Champion would focus on building relationships with local businesses, entrepreneurs, industry representatives, the Bradford Board of Trade and economic development partners.
They would help identify opportunities to promote Bradford, attract investment, support business retention and strengthen our reputation as a community where businesses can succeed.
This isn’t about replacing our economic development professionals.
It’s about giving economic development a stronger, consistent voice at the Council table.
5. Government Relations Champion
Making sure Bradford’s voice is heard beyond our municipal boundaries.
Many of the challenges facing Bradford cannot be solved by Town Council alone.
Transportation, healthcare, education, infrastructure funding and regional services often require collaboration with other levels of government.
This Champion would help support stronger relationships with provincial, federal, county and neighbouring municipal representatives.
Working within Council-approved priorities and alongside the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town administration, they could help identify partnership opportunities, advocate for Bradford’s needs and support efforts to secure funding.
We should never underestimate the importance of relationships when advocating for our community.
6. Heritage & Bradford’s Identity Champion
Protecting what makes Bradford special.
Growth should never mean forgetting where we came from.
From our historic downtown and Bond Head to our farming heritage, neighbourhoods and longstanding community traditions, Bradford has a story worth protecting.
This Champion would focus on understanding and celebrating our local history, built heritage and community identity.
They would strengthen relationships with heritage organizations, longtime residents and community historians while helping ensure Bradford’s character remains part of conversations about its future.
We can welcome growth without losing our identity.
7. Farming & Agricultural Business Champion
Supporting the industry that helped build Bradford.
Agriculture isn’t simply part of Bradford’s history.
It is a major part of our economy, our identity and our future.
The Holland Marsh and surrounding agricultural lands represent generations of investment, innovation, hard work and entrepreneurship.
This Champion would maintain stronger relationships with farmers, agricultural businesses, food producers and industry organizations.
They would help bring attention to agricultural infrastructure, transportation, land-use compatibility, economic opportunities and the challenges facing farming families.
As Bradford grows, our agricultural community deserves a consistent voice at the Council table.
8. Diversity & Fairness $ Social Service Champion
One community. Equal respect. Fair opportunities.
Bradford is home to residents from many backgrounds, cultures, generations and walks of life.
I believe municipal government should treat everyone with dignity, fairness and respect. This portfolio would not be about creating preferential treatment or political labels. It would be about ensuring residents have fair opportunities to participate, be heard and access municipal services.
The Champion would help identify barriers to participation, strengthen community relationships and encourage respectful dialogue.
Different backgrounds. Different perspectives. One Bradford.
The guiding principle would be straightforward: municipal decisions should be fair, transparent and focused on serving the community as a whole.
9. Arts & Culture Champion
Celebrating Bradford’s creativity and community spirit.
Music, theatre, public art, cultural organizations and creative expression help bring communities together.
They contribute to local pride, tourism, economic activity and the experiences that make a town feel like home.
This Champion would build relationships with artists, performers, cultural organizations and community groups.
They could help identify opportunities for public art, cultural programming, creative partnerships and better use of existing community spaces.
Bradford should be a community where creativity is encouraged and local talent has opportunities to shine.
Five Additional Responsibilities That Belong to Every Councillor
While each member of Council could take on a particular Champion portfolio, there are fundamental responsibilities that should never be assigned to just one person.
These are responsibilities that every elected representative must share.
Public Safety
Supporting Police, Fire, emergency preparedness, safer roads, neighbourhood safety and the well-being of our residents.
Responsible Development, Growth & Housing
Ensuring growth is properly planned, infrastructure is considered, housing needs are understood and development decisions protect Bradford’s long-term interests.
Town Performance & Taxpayer Value
Challenging unnecessary spending, improving municipal efficiency, demanding sound business cases and ensuring residents receive value for their tax dollars.
Events & Tourism
Supporting community celebrations, festivals, tourism opportunities and events that bring residents together while strengthening our local economy.
Communication & Transparency
Keeping residents informed, explaining decisions, listening to concerns and ensuring municipal government remains accessible and accountable.
These five priorities belong to all nine Council members. No exceptions.
How Would the Champion Program Work?
I envision a practical, collaborative approach.
Each Champion would build relationships with relevant organizations, community leaders, businesses and residents.
They would listen, learn and identify opportunities that deserve consideration.
They could participate in community meetings, attend relevant events and help bring forward ideas that support Council’s broader priorities.
Champions could also provide periodic updates to their colleagues so the entire Council benefits from what they have learned.
Most importantly, they would not operate independently of Council or Town administration.
They would not have additional voting powers, independent spending authority or the ability to direct municipal staff.
Their role would be to connect, understand, advocate and inform—not to create nine separate centres of political authority.
Leadership Isn’t About Owning Every Idea
One of the most important qualities of a strong Council is recognizing that no single person has all the answers.
Different Council members bring different experiences, relationships, strengths and interests.
Some may have extensive business experience. Others may have backgrounds in education, community service, agriculture, recreation or public administration.
Why not make better use of those strengths?
Why not encourage Councillors to become more knowledgeable about specific areas while sharing that knowledge with their colleagues?
And why not give residents and community organizations another meaningful way to connect with their elected representatives?
A stronger Council isn’t nine people competing to be heard. It’s nine people bringing their strengths together to serve the same community.
No Additional Political Positions. No Additional Salaries.
I believe this initiative could be designed around existing Council responsibilities and resources.
The intention would not be to create new paid positions, departments or administrative structures.
It would be to better organize how elected officials engage with the community and share information.
Any staff involvement or additional resources would need to be considered through the Town’s existing processes and approved priorities.
The goal is greater effectiveness—not greater bureaucracy.
A Proposal for the Next Council
If elected Deputy Mayor, I would bring this concept forward for discussion with the next Council.
I would want every member to have an opportunity to contribute to shaping the program.
Portfolio assignments should reflect each member’s interests, experience and willingness to take on additional responsibility.
The program should also be reviewed periodically to ensure it is producing meaningful results rather than simply creating new titles.
Ultimately, this proposal is about improving how Council works together and how residents connect with their local government.
Bradford deserves elected representatives who are engaged, informed, accessible and willing to collaborate.
We have nine seats around the Council table.
Let’s make sure we are using the collective strengths of all nine to their fullest potential.
Nine Council Members. Nine Community Champions. One Stronger Bradford.
So we can all Love Where We Live.
Joseph Giordano Candidate for Deputy MayorBradford West Gwillimbury
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