TimminsToday asked each of the candidates to submit a bio to introduce themselves to the voters. Here's Ward 5 candidate Jason Sereda’s:
Jason Sereda is 34 years old and grew up in the rural farming community of Aylmer, Ontario. Jason grew up working a variety of farming/labour jobs and working in customer service for local small businesses.
Jason has lived in Timmins for six years, beginning in August 2012 when he relocated from Windsor with his partner Jacqueline to pursue professional opportunities. Jason and Jacqueline quickly fell in love with the landscape and natural beauty of the region and made many friends in the community.
Jason is employed with the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association where he has supported our community members as CMHA’s Release from Custody Case Manager, as the Concurrent Disorder’s Case Manager, and currently as a Housing First Case Manager. Jason quickly became a leader at CMHA as a member of the OPSEU Local 631 Executive Committee, and as Chief Steward. Jason is proud of his record of improving CMHA and of advocating for his peers. This experience has allowed Jason to develop the skills needed to find solutions amongst differing goals and difficult relations.
Jason quickly recognized a large service gap existed in our community; a lack of safe and affordable housing, and a lack of a homeless serving system. Jason recognized that people were falling through the gaps and being pushed further to the margins. Jason felt this was not only unacceptable from a support perspective but was creating duplication and inefficiencies within the social service sector and negatively effecting the health and growth of the City.
For these reasons Jason began developing partnerships and new programs to respond to the need of people who are homeless in Timmins. These efforts have included:
• Creating Timmins’ first “drop-in program” for homeless individuals
• Creating Timmins’ first “street outreach” program to connect with marginalized individuals
• Creating Timmins’ first resource bag distribution to people who are homeless, and supporting the development of HOPE Comfort Kits
• Supporting the development of Project Love
• Organizing Timmins first event to participate in World Homeless Awareness Day by organizing a sleep-in at Hollinger Park and free community meal.
• Drafting the outline, and creating the original structure and ideas for the Living Space Summit on Homelessness
• Co-founding and Chairing the Homeless Coalition of Timmins.
These efforts demonstrate Jason Sereda’s effectiveness at bringing diverse stakeholders together to respond to a common community issue and with achieving results.
Jason spends most of his free time with his two dogs and partner Jacqueline. He enjoys going on hikes with the dogs at Hersey Lake, and can be found most evenings walking his dogs around Gilles Lake to unwind from the day. Jason is an avid collector of vinyl records and has more than 1,000 records in his collection ranging from punk rock to jazz and everything in between. While Jason admits he has next to no musical talent of his own, he enjoys attending live concerts and supports the local music scene.
Jason will ensure social justice perspectives are brought to the council table, and that all members of our community can participate in all of the great recreational opportunities that Timmins has to offer.
Follow his campaign: http://voteseredatimmins.ca/index.html and on Facebook
The other candidates running in Ward 5 are:
Michelle Boileau, Michael Doody, Karina Miki Douglas-Takayesu, Rick Dubeau, John Ivanovs, Andrew Marks, Kristin Murray, Noella Rinaldo, Cory Robin, Jean (John) Roy, Alex Szczebonski
Meet the mayoral candidates here.
