Gord Perks

Gordon Perks (born October 7, 1963) is a Canadian politician and environmental activist who has served on Toronto City Council since 2006. Perks currently represents Ward 4 Parkdale—High Park.

Gord Perks
Perks in 2014
Toronto City Councillor
for Ward 4 Parkdale—High Park
Assumed office
December 1, 2018
Preceded byWard created;
(amalgamation with Ward 13)
Toronto City Councillor
for Ward 14 Parkdale–High Park
In office
December 1, 2006 – December 1, 2018
Preceded bySylvia Watson
Succeeded byWard amalgamated
Chair of the Toronto and East York Community Council
Assumed office
December 1, 2010
Preceded byPam McConnell
Personal details
BornOctober 7, 1963 (1963-10-07) (age 60)
NationalityCanadian
Political partyNew Democratic
SpouseSarah Winterton
Children3
OccupationPolitician

Career

Perks has worked for a number of environmental organizations. He was a writer for Pollution Probe from 1987 to 1989 and a "Pulp and Paper" campaigner at Greenpeace Canada from 1989 to 1993. He was executive director of the Better Transportation Coalition from 1994 to 1996 and was a senior campaigner at the Toronto Environmental Alliance from 1997 until 2006 with a focus on waste reduction and public transit. He also works as an adjunct professor at the Environmental Studies department of the University of Toronto.[1]

Perks was the focus of province-wide attention when he disrupted Ontario Premier David Peterson's press conference launching the 1990 provincial election campaign.[2] As Peterson announced the election and began to make a statement as to why his government should be re-elected, Perks appeared with a briefcase chained to his wrist containing a tape recorder playing a recording of environmental promises made by Peterson, in an act of criticism of the Liberal government's environmental record.[2] Perks also heckled Peterson with a bullhorn.[3] Greenpeace and other groups inspired by Perks' disruption plagued Peterson's campaign appearances.[3]

Writer

Perks has written and co-authored a number of publications including The Green Consumer Guide (1989), Waste Less Now (1987) and Oil Drop (1989).[4][5] In addition, he has written articles for Alternatives magazine and he wrote an environmental column for Torstar-owned Eye Weekly newspaper from 2003 to 2011.[1]

Political career

During the 2006 federal election, Perks was the New Democratic Party candidate for the riding of Davenport. He placed second, losing to the incumbent member of Parliament Mario Silva of the Liberal Party.

Perks later ran for city councillor a few months later during the 2006 Toronto municipal election in Ward 14 Parkdale—High Park. He ran against a slate of 13 other candidates and was endorsed by Mayor David Miller.[6][7] He won the race by a seven percent margin over his nearest rival.[8]

Perks ran again in the 2010 municipal election. He received an endorsement from the Toronto Star and was once again re-elected in Ward 14, over nine other candidates.

In his second term, Perks was named chair of the Toronto and East York Community Council.[9]

In the 2014 municipal election, Perks was re-elected for a third term. He once again was endorsed by The Star.[10]

Electoral boundaries were adjusted for the 2018 municipal election, and Perks' Ward 14 was amalgamated with Ward 13, the other Parkdale—High Park electoral district. Incumbent Ward 13 councillor Sarah Doucette opted not to run in the newly amalgamated riding and instead endorsed Perks, who ran and won in the newly created Ward 4 Parkdale—High Park.[11][12]

Electoral record
2018 Toronto municipal election, Ward 4 Parkdale—High Park
Candidate Votes Vote share
Gord Perks 16,887 44.55%
David Ginsberg 8,181 21.58%
Kalsang Dolma 5,352 14.12%
Evan Tummillo 2,367 6.24%
Valerie Grdisa 1,771 4.67%
Nick Pavlov 874 2.31%
Taras Kulish 868 2.29%
Alex Perez 686 1.81%
José Vera 544 1.44%
Mercy Okalowe 373 0.98%
Total 37,903
100%
Source: City of Toronto[13][14]
2014 Toronto election, Ward 14 Parkdale—High Park[15]
Candidate Votes  %
Gord Perks11,63055.03%
Charmain Emerson6,81132.23%
Gus Koutoumanos1,1075.24%
Tim Kirby9684.58%
Andreas Marouchos3631.72%
Jimmy Talpa2541.20%
Total21,133100%
2010 Toronto election, Ward 14 Parkdale—High Park[16]
Candidate Votes  %
Gord Perks8,54251.8
Ryan Hobson2,79817.0
Michael Erickson2,43414.8
7 other candidates[N 1]2,71316.5
Total16,487100
2006 Toronto election, Ward 14 Parkdale—High Park[17]
Candidate Votes  %
Gord Perks3,81630.1
Rowena Santos2,97823.5
Ted Lojko1,87214.8
John Colautti1,64513.0
10 other candidates[N 2]2,35018.6
Total12,661100
2006 Canadian federal election: Davenport
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalMario Silva20,17251.87+1.18
New DemocraticGord Perks12,68132.61-1.52
ConservativeTheresa Rodrigues4,20210.80+1.50
GreenMark O'Brien1,4403.70-0.48
CommunistMiguel Figueroa1720.44+0.03
Canadian ActionWendy Forrest1220.31+0.02
Marxist–LeninistSarah Thompson1030.26+0.02
Total valid votes 38,892100.00
Total rejected ballots 2400.61-0.22
Turnout 39,13260.61+7.72
Elections Canada, Riding of Davenport, Electoral District 35015.

References
Notes
  1. Candidates who polled less than 1,000 votes in 2010 election were (in descending order): Bill Vrebosch, Cullen Simpson, Gus Koutoumanos, Barry Hubick, Jules-José Kerlinger, István Tar, Jimmy Talpa
  2. Candidates who polled less than 1,000 votes in 2006 election were (in descending order): David White, Tom Freeman, Walter Jarsky, Dilorece South, Anthony Quinn, Beverly Bernardo, David Hanna, Matthew Vezina, Jimmy Talpa, Barry Hubick
Citations
  1. "City Councillor Gord Perks". City Councillors. City of Toronto. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  2. Israelson, David (August 25, 1990). "Environment ministry aide blasts Greenpeace criticism of Premier". Toronto Star. Toronto. p. A18.
  3. Walker, William (August 18, 1990). "Peterson last on Greenpeace list". Toronto Star. Toronto. p. A9.
  4. Perks, Gord (1987). Waste Less Now: final report. Toronto: Pollution Probe Foundation.
  5. Winterton, Sarah; Clutchey, Carl; Perks, Gord (1989). Oil drop : final report. Toronto: Pollution Probe Foundation. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  6. James, Royson (November 20, 2006). "The election that was, and what's next: Role for Perks?". Toronto Star. Toronto. p. B8.
  7. City Bureau (November 14, 2006). "GTA Votes: Toronto Results". Toronto Star. Toronto. p. B2.
  8. City Bureau (November 14, 2006). "Toronto Hot Races: Gord Perks Ward 14–Parkdale-High Park". Toronto Star. Toronto. p. B1.
  9. Nickle, David (December 8, 2010). "Gord Perks to chair Toronto and East York Community Council". Inside Toronto. Toronto. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  10. "Editorial | The Star's endorsements for Toronto city council: Editorial". thestar.com. October 20, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  11. "Toronto election: Coun. Sarah Doucette not running under 25-ward model, backs Gord Perks - Toronto | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  12. "Gord Perks cruises to victory in Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park". thestar.com. October 22, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  13. "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Clerk's Office. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  14. "Toronto election 2018: Ward 4 Parkdale–High Park - Toronto | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  15. "City of Toronto elections page". Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  16. City of Toronto elections page Archived October 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  17. City Clerk's Official Declaration 2006 Archived June 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
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