THE FOURTH OF MY SUMMER SERIES COLUMNS * A CONVERSATION WITH COUNCILLOR JOHN GRAY *

I MET JOHN GRAY FOR THE FIRST TIME well over 30 years ago. We began our conversation with his reminding me of that which I already knew “I’m very much a hands-on person, and I refuse to give my name to anything unless I’ve played a major role in making it happen.” That sentiment illustrates much of what his friends and colleagues have come to know and expect from a man they have called Alderman, Mayor and Councillor during his many years as an advocate for the community. A classic car buff, John took pride in telling me of his many hours spent working on mechanical and cosmetic restorations. Unlike most enthusiasts, John enjoys his time in an air conditioned garage that used to be an indoor swimming pool at the back of his house. He said he simply couldn’t wait to fill it in and create a one-of-a-kind space where he can tinker with his cars, although his family had to be persuaded first – which wasn’t an easy task. John was born in Scarborough in 1959, and at the age of five his family moved to Whitby where he began what would become his formative years, eventually moving to Oshawa as a young man at the age of 23. He received a diploma in Accounting and Financial Management from Centennial College in Scarborough, and as it happens, we shared a few memories as fellow alumni of the Progress campus. He went on to enjoy an interesting career teaching accounting software techniques, as well as establishing on-line database tools for a publishing company located in Toronto. John looks back at his first run for elected office with an ounce of humility. “I ran for council in 1991 and lost in a big way, and that experience taught me a great deal as I learned the value of face-to-face contact with voters, and I have made it my mission since then to knock on every door.” He said his life in local politics has been governed by what he describes as a simple but sound philosophy, “I will do whatever it takes to leave this city a better place than I found it.” He attempted to do just that with a considerable amount of infrastructure and ‘legacy’ developments, such as the Legends Centre (now the Delpark Homes Centre) on Harmony Road, and the General Motors Centre (now known as the Tribute Communities Centre) in downtown Oshawa. As always, politics is a tough game, and John did earn a reputation as a free-spending mayor – one who was not afraid to add considerable debt to the City at that time. Ultimately, he would pay the price for that, having been voted out of the Mayor’s office in 2010. Of course, none of his achievements came easily, or without certain struggles. John recollects chairing a number of very difficult public meetings, but in the end, he feels he was able to maintain a united council. He laughed while thinking back to the opening night concert performed by Tom Jones at the brand new General Motors Centre – as it just happened to coincide with his 2006 election win. As with anyone in political life, there were many ups and downs in John’s career. Since 1994 he has served as a City and a Regional councillor, and was Mayor of Oshawa between 2003 and 2010. He was elected back onto City Council in 2018 where he continues to serve. John looks back on his first electoral success in 1994 with fond memories “It was a moment of sheer elation” he told me. “There were times when I had to force myself to go out and knock on doors, and I came to the realization that my greatest successes were those I achieved during difficult times – when I would meet some of my most ardent supporters who made such a difference to my campaign.” John’s early experience watching Oshawa council mirrors my own, however he took the unusual step of attending City Hall in person as much as he could. He recalled what we both see as the “good old days” with men like Jim Potticary, Ed Kolodzie, John DeHart and Jack Wiley in front of the Rogers Cable10 cameras. In point of fact, John remembers his friend and mentor, Gerry Emm, a long time Whitby politician, as being a major influence in his decision to eventually run for office. “When my dad received his first regional water bill in the early 1970’s he was livid, and the first person he called to complain about it was Gerry, and my dad ended up becoming one of Gerry’s biggest supporters. Others whom John saw as friends include Des Newman, Bob Attersley, and Jim Gartshore, big men in their time and effective community leaders, all of whom offered as much advice as one could expect. The years that would mark John’s time in office were driven, as he says, by a desire to do his best for the city’s downtown, and he told me he remains quite pleased with his accomplishments, although he was forced to pay a personal price. “There were many sleepless nights where I would work in my garage for hours on end following some very contentious meetings.” he said. “But in the end my colleagues and I were able to remain as a unified council, and our success in building a legacy for this city stands on its own.” John also spoke of the working relationship he had with the likes of Terry Kelly, who would at one point telephone him, expressing his personal gratitude for John’s efforts in establishing the General Motors Centre. Fast forward to the year that is 2025 and the many challenges we face in our society and our communities. I asked John to offer his assessment as to the future of Oshawa, and he immediately raised two concerns, telling me “Our goal must be to further enhance residential development in our downtown, and to somehow deal with the issue of what has become the ‘homelessness crisis’ facing our region and our country.” He further suggests “Successful communities are those that stand above, through innovation and new ideas.” John feels his work in helping to create a better community is not yet finished. He is currently the City Councillor for Ward 5.