1. July 25th
, 2015
Personal Message from Mayor Bonnie Crombie
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the City of Mississauga and Members of Council, I would like to
recognize the tremendous team of dedicated individuals and leadership from
the Canadian Youth Think Tank for helping to organize the Mobilizing 22: A
Youth, Leadership and Policy Conference.
I would like to further recognize the United Way of Peel Region, India Rainbow Community
Services of Peel, and the Lions Club of Mississauga, for their generous support to make this
conference happen. Mississauga is home to bright, talented and ambitious youth. Our youth
have new and creative ideas, and we need to ensure that they have their voices heard to help
shape policy and the future of our great City. This conference allows local youth to do this.
Some of the workshop topics you will be undertaking throughout this conference include
developing the skills necessary to grapple with major economic problems. At the City of
Mississauga we understand the importance of generating economic development opportunities.
Earlier this year, City Council reaffirmed its commitment to invest $10 million toward the
University of Toronto at Mississauga’s (UTM) Innovation Complex. Mississauga’s partnership
with UTM is creating the right environment for students to develop new concepts – network with
private-sector leaders – and take their ideas straight into the marketplace.
Other policy issues to be debated include local challenges about poverty. I recently launched
the Mayor’s Advisory Board on Poverty and Homelessness. This Advisory Board brings together
community leaders to find practical Mississauga-based solutions to combat homelessness,
hunger, poverty, and address affordable housing challenges. Working together – this Advisory
Board – will develop strategies to help lift youth, seniors, families and newcomers out of poverty.
In closing, I look forward to hearing about the ideas and solutions that emerge as a result of
young minds coming together during the Mobilizing 22: A Youth, Leadership and Policy
Conference. Let’s continue the conversation. I encourage all participants to email and tweet
their ideas to me @BonnieCrombie. I look forward to hearing from you.
Warmest Regards,
Bonnie Crombie, MBA, ICD.D
Mayor, City of Mississauga