Daryl Bennett
Encyclopedia
Daryl Bennett is a politician
in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. He is the current mayor
of Peterborough
, having won the position in the 2010 municipal election
.
. His father, George Bennett, was a city councillor from 1971 to 1980, and his father-in-law, Keith Brown
, was a Progressive Conservative
Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) from 1959 to 1967. Bennett worked for his father-in-law's businesses after graduating high school, founded Liftlock Coach Lines in 1974, and later established the Liftlock Group of Companies. He chaired the Greater Peterborough Business Development Centre and the Greater Peterborough Community Futures Development Corporation in the 2000s.
Bennett was also a founding member of the Market Hall Fund-raising Committee, and in 2003 he was named to a committee that oversaw plans for Peterborough's centennial celebrations. He served on the board of governors of Trent University
from 2000 to 2004, and there was some surprise when his position was not renewed. Bennett has suggested this may have been because of questions he posed to university officials. He organized a campaign for local businesses affected by a major flood in mid-2004; a few months later, he was named as person of the year by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
.
In the 2003 provincial election
, Bennett co-chaired the unsuccessful re-election campaign of Progressive Conservative
incumbent Gary Stewart
. He supported Sylvia Sutherland
's re-election as mayor of Peterborough in the same year's municipal election
.
in the 2010 Peterborough municipal election
and won by a significant margin. Bennett's supporters included former MPPs Keith Brown, John Turner
, and Gary Stewart, as well as prominent municipal politician Paul Rexe (who died before the election). Ayotte has also said that some of his financial backers from 2006 shifted to Bennett's campaign in 2010.
He will be sworn in as mayor on December 1, 2010.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He is the current mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
, having won the position in the 2010 municipal election
Peterborough municipal election, 2010
The 2010 Peterborough municipal election was held on October 25, 2010, to elect a mayor, city councillors, and school trustees in the city of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. All other municipalities in Ontario also held elections on the same day. In the mayoral contest, challenger Daryl Bennett...
.
Early life and business career
Bennett was born in Peterborough and graduated from the Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational SchoolPeterborough Collegiate and Vocational School
Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School is a public high school located at 201 McDonnel Street in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. One of the oldest public schools in the country, PCVS was founded in 1827. Since 2006, it has operated at capacity with 960+ students, 73 teachers and support staff...
. His father, George Bennett, was a city councillor from 1971 to 1980, and his father-in-law, Keith Brown
Keith Brown (Ontario politician)
Keith Brown is a retired businessperson and politician in the Canadian province of Ontario. He was a Progressive Conservative Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1959 to 1967.-Private life and career:...
, was a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) from 1959 to 1967. Bennett worked for his father-in-law's businesses after graduating high school, founded Liftlock Coach Lines in 1974, and later established the Liftlock Group of Companies. He chaired the Greater Peterborough Business Development Centre and the Greater Peterborough Community Futures Development Corporation in the 2000s.
Bennett was also a founding member of the Market Hall Fund-raising Committee, and in 2003 he was named to a committee that oversaw plans for Peterborough's centennial celebrations. He served on the board of governors of Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
from 2000 to 2004, and there was some surprise when his position was not renewed. Bennett has suggested this may have been because of questions he posed to university officials. He organized a campaign for local businesses affected by a major flood in mid-2004; a few months later, he was named as person of the year by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
.
In the 2003 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, Bennett co-chaired the unsuccessful re-election campaign of Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
incumbent Gary Stewart
Gary Stewart (politician)
Richard Gary Stewart is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003, and briefly served as a cabinet minister under Mike Harris.Stewart was educated at Banting Institute, receiving a Mortician Certificate, and...
. He supported Sylvia Sutherland
Sylvia Sutherland
Sylvia Sutherland is a former Canadian politician, who was mayor of Peterborough, Ontario from 1986–1991 and 1998-2006.Sutherland has a diploma in journalism from the Ryerson Institute of Technology, a BA in history from Trent University, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the...
's re-election as mayor of Peterborough in the same year's municipal election
Peterborough municipal election, 2003
The 2003 Peterborough municipal election took place on November 10, 2003, to elect a mayor, councillors, and school trustees in the city of Peterborough, Ontario.Sylvia Sutherland was narrowly re-elected in the mayoral contest.-Mayor:...
.
Politician
Bennett challenged one-term incumbent mayor Paul AyottePaul Ayotte
D. Paul Ayotte is a municipal politician in the Canadian province of Ontario. Formerly a city councillor, he was the mayor of Peterborough from 2006 to 2010.-Early life and private career:...
in the 2010 Peterborough municipal election
Peterborough municipal election, 2010
The 2010 Peterborough municipal election was held on October 25, 2010, to elect a mayor, city councillors, and school trustees in the city of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. All other municipalities in Ontario also held elections on the same day. In the mayoral contest, challenger Daryl Bennett...
and won by a significant margin. Bennett's supporters included former MPPs Keith Brown, John Turner
John Melville Turner
John Melville Turner is a former politician in the province of Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1975, and again from 1977 to 1987, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. He was the Speaker of the Ontario Legislature from 1981 to...
, and Gary Stewart, as well as prominent municipal politician Paul Rexe (who died before the election). Ayotte has also said that some of his financial backers from 2006 shifted to Bennett's campaign in 2010.
He will be sworn in as mayor on December 1, 2010.