Vaughan mayor stresses kinship with Jews

VAUGHAN, Ont. — The new mayor of the city of Vaughan, Maurizio Bevilacqua, says he has “deep roots” in the Jewish community.

Maurizio Bevilacqua

In a sit-down interview at his mayoral office last week, Bevilacqua told The CJN that his commitment to  “servant leadership” means he aims to provide his constituents with the best possible quality of life while taking into account all of their various cultural viewpoints.

He said his leadership style is such that it’s rooted in knowledge of the people he represents. And a great deal of that knowledge is taken up by Judaica.

As the former Liberal member of Parliament for Vaughan – he served from 2004 to 2010 before leaving his seat to run for mayor last year – he said he is very familiar with his city’s Jewish community.

“I often say to people who are going through personal challenges that a single ray of light can erase darkness,” Bevilacqua said, alluding to the symbolism he notes whenever he contemplates the meaning of Chanukah.

Bevilacqua visited Israel in the mid-1990s and said he plans to return.

“I am aware of the community’s history, its struggles and the great contribution they have made to the world in many areas of endeavour,” he said, adding: “While it is important to remember the unfortunate incidences of history, it’s also important to celebrate the achievement of a people who could have easily chosen the road to [capitulation], but rather chose the path of resiliency. And the world has benefited as a result.”

Bevilacqua also referred extensively to one of his favourite authors, Viktor Frankl, the Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist who pioneered logotherapy.

“[Frankl] was able to live through the Holocaust and from that experience, develop a branch of psychotherapy that has helped millions of people,” he said. “Where did that come from? An experience where the human condition was severely tested. It speaks to humanity’s [and the Jewish Peoples’] ability to be resilient.”

Bevilacqua said he believes the political environment at all three levels of government – municipal, provincial and federal – is still “playing catch-up” with the multicultural reality of the Canadian population.

“What I find extremely fascinating about the city of Vaughan is that we speak over 70 languages. But with that comes different cultural biases, different dispositions… yet we coexist in harmony. This speaks to the enlightened form of citizenry in Vaughan,” Bevilacqua said.

He said as the new mayor, he intends to lead by example. One of his first acts was to pass the “Vaughan Accord.”

The document, signed by the mayor and all Vaughan city councillors on Jan. 11, 2011, calls upon the city’s elected officials to, among other things, “inspire cultural growth by promoting sports, the arts, music, theatre and architectural excellence; promote unity through diversity as a characteristic of Vaughan citizenship and ensure that our behaviour is at all times consistent with the city’s core values of respect, accountability and dedication.”

It’s the first time council has signed  such a protocol, Bevilacqua said.

“My goal is to establish a new era of mutual respect and co-operation – this document puts the promise of a productive council in writing. This is a fresh start for our city. This is how great cities are built, and this is how we are going to take Vaughan to the next level,” he said in a speech at the signing of the accord.

He said as a public servant, he is motivated by a “higher purpose” to realize the full potential of his city.

With specific regard to Thornhill’s burgeoning Jewish and Israeli immigrant community – represented by Ward 5 Coun. Alan Shefman – Bevilacqua said that he understands their experience and that he will work with Shefman to address the needs of the Jewish community going forward.

Speaking to the subject of newcomers to Canada and to his city specifically, Bevilacqua recalled how at age 10, he immigrated to Canada from Italy with his family in search of a better life.

“The struggles [immigrants] face today are ones I faced in the past,” he said.

Through hard work, persistence and determination he learned English and eventually became one of the youngest MPs in Canadian history.

 “I’ve felt and lived [the hardships] of the immigrant experience in a very real way,” he said, adding that he hopes his successes in Canada are viewed as an inspiration to newcomers.

But he refuses to sugarcoat the reality of being an immigrant to this land of opportunity.

“As an immigrant, you often need to work harder to achieve the same ends. And that’s the reality. I don’t sell false hopes. What I sell is a realistic, attainable reality that one can, in fact, achieve. [Immigrants] need to work hard, be diligent and do the work that is required” to attain success in Canada.