Having spent his whole life in Bradford West Gwillimbury, Ben Verkaik had been considering running for Ward 3 councillor for a handful of years but didn’t feel he had the time.
Now, Verkaik is hopeful he’ll get the opportunity to give back to the community as he prepares for the municipal election this fall.
“I’ve thought about running for council for a long time now but with raising my family and my career as a chemical engineer, I never thought I had the time available to do the job properly,” he said. “With my career winding down, I have more time. I care a lot about this community, and I think it’s a great place to live, and I’d like to keep it that way.
“With the experience I have, I think I can best help do that by serving on town council. I also believe the residents in Ward 3 are best represented by a councillor who actually resides in Ward 3. The ward system was introduced when Bradford and West Gwillimbury were amalgamated in 1991 so that the rural areas would have a voice on town council, and I think we still need that voice.”
Community has always been an important part of Verkaik’s life, and he’s prioritized it by volunteering with numerous organizations and groups.
“I was a hockey dad for 17 years with Bradford Minor Hockey, coaching and managing my kids’ teams,” he said. “I served on church council as a deacon and elder for nine years at Springdale CRC in the Marsh. I also served on the board of directors for six years at King Christian School, where my children attended, and a year ago agreed to serve a third term as board treasurer at the school."
From 2011 to 2017, Verkaik was chair of the building committee for the new King Christian School building. In 2018, he became an industry member of the BWG Economic Advisory Committee working with town staff and councillors and was recently appointed to the board of directors for WOW Living, an organization committed to affordable housing in Bradford.
“I also volunteer at the Out of the Cold Cafe, a daytime shelter in downtown Bradford and at the Bradford Helping Hand Food Bank,” he said. “I truly believe that community volunteers are blessed with these experiences almost as much as the recipients are.”
Verkaik believes as a resident of Ward 3, he can best serve the ward as its voice in the council chambers while championing important initiatives for his potential constituents.
“I’m committed to open and honest communication with the residents of Ward 3,” he said. “I want to keep property taxes low while still providing the services the residents of Ward 3 require. I want to maintain the rural nature of Ward 3 while preserving our valuable farmland and also work to preserve the history and village nature of Bond Head. I’m also committed to maintaining the roads in Ward 3 and ensuring projects are done in a timely manner.”
On a wider scale, Verkaik wants to focus on smart development as Bradford grows to ensure it fits the need of its residents while helping to invigorate the local economy.
"Planned growth should continue to be concentrated in and around the Bradford urban centre with the aim of integrating affordable housing,” he explained. “Even though affordable housing is a county and higher government responsibility, local council can play a significant role in the planning process and advocating for local projects. We need to continue to develop industrial lands to create local employment and reduce the residential tax burden.
“Tourism will also play an important role in the economic development of Bradford but it’s also critical we have hotel accommodations within the municipality so that visitors will stay, shop, and dine in town. And we also need to continue to develop transit in town and reduce traffic congestion throughout Bradford.”
With deep family roots in Bradford, his family purchased 90 acres in the Holland Marsh in 1934, Verkaik has a burning passion for the community.
“I grew up on a family farm in the Marsh, attended Bradford District High School, and except when I attended the University of Waterloo, I lived in the area all my life,” he said. “I’ve been in Ward 3 for the past 18 years. This is such a great place to live, and we need a strong councillor to make it a better place to live.”
To learn more about Verkaik's platform, visit his website here.
