'The Mansion, The Mayor, & The Mission' or: A Conversation With The New Mayor On How Brampton Can Rise.

As I slowly crept past the imposing, yet stately manor, my mind and heart began to race.

"W.T.F?” I immediately thought to myself, “did Google maps betray me?” I reviewed my e-mail to confirm if this was indeed the correct address. It was.

photo credit: http://ataarchitectsinc.ca/

Alderlea House on 40 Elizabeth Street, owned by the City of Brampton, is a rare and invaluable part of Brampton's heritage. At over 7000 square feet, the "Italianate" style mansion is a sight to behold. Construction of the house went from 1865-1879. The year 1865, for the history aficionados, was 2 years before Confederation; I wonder how much construction was slowed by the bureaucracy of the newly established Canada? What were internet speeds like in 1867? Or better yet, I wonder if it was as controversial as a present “grand” Brampton landmark.

The original builder of the house was Peel MPP, Kenneth Chisholm (1829-1906), who was also a son-in-law of one of the founders of Brampton. However, he was forced to relinquish ownership of the house after having some personal financial issues. The Royal Canadian Legion bought the building in 1944 to use as their Brampton base, but eventually the city bought the house in 2002. Finally, after years of planning and development, the restoration of the 149-year-old heritage building is almost complete.

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However, Alderlea really wins once one discovers that Brampton gem we now call Gage Park, was once a part of the Alderlea property. Consensually Gage Park is a top destination in Brampton, and the city's oldest, most charming park. A place where my associates and I would spend malaise filled afternoons wondering, "what's the deal with Brampton?" And, "I wonder who owns that place?" as we would gaze at the mysterious, yet dignified Alderlea Manor just a few yards away.

Finally, I was entering the other side - so to speak. I was at the Alderlea House about to go inside for my first time. However, my assignment was not writing about the freshly restored heritage site; I was actually there to meet the person who had been elected to restore the entire city of Brampton. I was going to get an interview with Brampton's new mayor, Linda Jeffrey..

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A New Hope That Brampton Rises

For the first time in 14 years there has been a changing of the guard in Brampton.

Former Liberal MPP and cabinet minister Linda Jeffrey decisively defeated scandal plagued incumbent Susan Fennell in a much buzzed about election. Former city councillor John Sanderson showed valiant campaign effort and made strong enough of an impression to be the official runner up. However, Mr. Sanderson was not able to fully distance himself from the stigma of the Fennell administration. Ms. Fennell finished in a disappointing 3rd place.

The various scandals in which Ms. Fennell was embroiled, the lack of progress in Brampton, and a general 14 year itch for political change all contributed to Ms.Fennell's precipitous decline in this election. Even though Brampton may not agree now, Ms. Fennell had a decent, dare I say, impressive run.

She led the city through a phase of unprecedented growth, there was a highway 410 expansion, improvements in public transportation, and we got a new hospital all under Fennell's leadership. However, complacency kicked in, mistakes were made, and the administration simply exploited a broken and disengaged system to pull some "fast ones" on unsuspecting Bramptonians. The City Hall expansion and the Rose Theatre come to mind, we're going to be paying for those projects for a very, very long time.

Whatever, we must move on. We now have a new person in Brampton to lead the city in a new direction. How reassuring. So now what?