- Naheed Nenshi
-
Naheed Nenshi 
36th Mayor of Calgary Incumbent Assumed office
October 25, 2010Preceded by Dave Bronconnier Personal details Born February 2, 1972
Toronto, Ontario[1]Alma mater University of Calgary
Harvard UniversityProfession Associate professor Religion Muslim Naheed Kurban Nenshi (born February 2, 1972) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to succeed Dave Bronconnier as mayor of Calgary, Alberta in the 2010 Calgary municipal election.
Contents
Biography
Nenshi was born in Toronto, Ontario, and raised in Calgary, Alberta.[1] His parents, Noorjah and Kurban, were South-Asian-origin immigrants to Canada from Tanzania, and he has a sister.[2]
He was educated at the University of Calgary, receiving a Bachelor of Commerce in 1993, and completed a Master of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1998.[2] Nenshi worked for McKinsey & Company for several years before starting his own consulting business.[1]
Nenshi has written about how cities can retain young professionals and co-founded two citizen's groups aimed at improving Calgary's civic government.[3] He was an instructor in non-profit management in the Bissett School of Business at Mount Royal University and wrote a regular municipal affairs column for the Calgary Herald.[1]
2010 mayoral bid
Nenshi giving a campaign speech in July 2010
Nenshi speaking to supporters and media shortly after being projected to winSee also: Calgary municipal election, 2010Nenshi first ventured into politics in 2004, running unsuccessfully for a seat on Calgary's city council.[1] His 2010 campaign for mayor placed an emphasis on using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to promote his platform and engage voters.[4] A late September poll showed that his campaign was generating interest as he sat third with 8% support, but well behind the leaders, Alderman Ric McIver (42%) and local media personality Barb Higgins (28%).[5] His growing popularity led to greater scrutiny of his views, including a public dispute with Calgary Police Service chief Rick Hanson over the cost of policing the city.[6]
Days before the election, a Calgary Herald poll showed that Nenshi's grassroots campaign continued to gain momentum as he was shown to have 30% support among decided voters, placing him in a statistical tie with McIver and Higgins. He polled the strongest amongst younger voters, believed to be the result of his social media campaign.[7] Nenshi's surge in popularity carried through to the election itself, as earned 40% of the vote, nearly 28,000 votes ahead of second-place finisher McIver.[8]
Being Ismaili,[9] Nenshi became the first Muslim to become mayor of a major Canadian city.[10] His win was viewed as a breakthrough for the use of social media as an election tool,[3] and when considered with his faith and background, made international headlines.[11] Eastern Canada was particularly surprised given Calgary's conservative image.[12] His election is seen as major signal of the shift in Albertan politics and the make up of Calgary.[13]
Immediately following his win, Nenshi set out four priorities: reforming how city council is run, eliminating the city's deficit, constructing a planned tunnel under a proposed new runway at the Calgary International Airport, and secure funding for the proposed south-east leg of the city's C-train system.[14]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Naheed Nenshi". Calgary Herald. http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/election/Naheed+Nenshi/3179003/story.html. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ a b Graveland, Bill (2010-10-19). "Calgary's new mayor shreds city's stereotypes". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/877853--calgary-s-new-mayor-shreds-city-s-stereotypes?bn=1. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ a b "Calgary mayor-elect downplays egghead image". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-10-19. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2010/10/19/calgary-new-mayor-nenshi-background.html. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ Jinnah, Naila and Nikhat Ahmed (2010-10-19). "Ismaili Muslim elected mayor of the third-largest city in Canada". TheIsmaili.org. http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1103/Ismaili-Muslim-elected-mayor-of-the-thirdlargest-city-in-Canada. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ Braid, Don (2010-09-26). "Nenshi capitalizing on social-media buzz". Calgary Herald. http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Braid+Nenshi+capitalizing+social+media+buzz/3581186/story.html. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ "Calgary election squabble over policing costs". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-09-24. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/09/24/calgary-nenshi-mayor-police-hanson.html. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ Markusoff, Jason (2010-10-13). "Herald poll: Three-way dead heat in race for Calgary's mayor". Calgary Herald. http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Herald+poll+Three+dead+heat+race+Calgary+mayor/3661907/story.html. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ "Election results". City of Calgary. 2010-10-19. http://election.gov.calgary.ab.ca/. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ Jinnah, Naila and Nikhat Ahmed (2010-10-19). "Ismaili Muslim elected mayor of the third-largest city in Canada". TheIsmaili.org. http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1103/Ismaili-Muslim-elected-mayor-of-the-thirdlargest-city-in-Canada. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
- ^ Windgrove, Josh (2010-10-19). "Calgary’s Naheed Nenshi becomes Canada’s first Muslim mayor". Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/prairies/naheed-nenshi-takes-calgarys-top-job/article1762765/. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ Kaufmann, Bill (2010-10-19). "Nenshi win makes ripples around the world". Calgary Sun. http://www.calgarysun.com/news/calgaryvotes/2010/10/19/15751831.html. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ Rick Bell (October 20, 2010). "Bell: Centre of attention". Calgary Sun. http://www.calgarysun.com/news/columnists/rick_bell/2010/10/20/15755986.html. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ^ Josh Wingrove (October 19, 2010). "Naheed Nenshi becomes Canada's First Muslim Mayor". Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/calgarys-naheed-nenshi-becomes-canadas-first-muslim-mayor/article1762765/page2/. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ^ Markusoff, Jason (2010-10-19). "Mayor-elect Naheed Nenshi quick to outline priorities for Calgary". Calgary Herald. http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Mayor+elect+Naheed+Nenshi+quick+outline+priorities+Calgary/3694994/story.html?cid=megadrop_story. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
External links
Categories:- 1972 births
- Living people
- Canadian Ismailis
- John F. Kennedy School of Government alumni
- Mayors of Calgary
- McKinsey & Company people
- People of Tanzanian descent
- University of Calgary alumni
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