The autobiographical account of Steve Anderson; the power of family, hard work, resilience and community

BY PAUL JUNOR

The autobiographical account of Steve Anderson’s rise to power as Deputy Mayor of Shelburne from his humble beginnings in the Jane and Finch area is truly inspiring.

The release of his book “Driven to Succeed” chronicles his ascendency to political power from roots in a community that is often maligned and stigmatized.

I was able to interview Mr Anderson on Monday, October 18^th and he shared many details about his life, mission, vision and plans for the future. He was born in Canada, the youngest of seven children. His family settled in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood after his parents divorced. His mother was an inspiration to him and the rest of his siblings. She was a strong woman and played a significant influence on his early upbringing and growth.

“My mom never missed a day of work, was never late, she never took any vacation time. That work ethic and her faith is what inspired us to accomplish and become better than the situation that we were in.” He mentioned that it was because of the influence of a teacher who intervened when he was placed in an ESL class (even though he was reading at high-school level) that changed his academic trajectory.

Mr Anderson recalled his early elementary school education, where he attended Topcliff Middle School and Oakdale Middle School. He eventually attended CW Jeffers, and eventually transferred to Runnymede C. I. where he graduated. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Windsor and was accepted at the University of Ottawa to study law.

After being called to the bar, he practiced litigation law before being hired as the first Black lawyer in the Toronto Transit Commission legal department in 2012. He spent thirteen years at the TTC and handled cases involving lawsuits that result from: slip and falls, motor vehicles accidents, assaults and fatalities. He has worked on several high-profile cases that were reported in the mainstream media.

Anderson has dedicated his life to giving back through community service volunteering in many capacities over the years. He was recognized in 2013 with a House of Commons Community Service Award and was named by the Toronto Star as one of the Top 50 Jamaicans in the GTA.

His decision to run for public office was catalysed by his strong family values as a father of two children, along with his deep spiritual values and commitment to servant leadership. He was appointed as a Councillor for the Town of Shelburne on Monday October 16^th, 2017, serving for eleven months. After the election in 2018 he was elected as Deputy Mayor and subsequently was sworn in as Regional Councillor for the County of Dufferin.

Mr. Anderson told me that his book is aimed to inspire young people to dream big. His story is a reminder that it is not how or where we start in life, but how we decide to finish. Challenges are inevitable, but it is how we respond to them that will determine our future and legacy.

The official virtual launch was held on October 12^th, 2021, on social media. On October 20^th, at the Mill Street Library in Orangeville, Steve shared his struggles, lessons learned and successes, and on October 27^th, 2021, it will be held in Dufferin County.

Proceeds will go to: Operation Black Vote Canada, Dufferin Peel Multicultural Society and the Shelburne Multicultural Event. There will be forthcoming announcements on social media regarding other events. Anyone interested can check the following social media platforms.

Website: www.driventosucceed.ca

Instagram:deputymayorsteve

Twitter: councillorsteve

Facebook:Councillorsteveanderson