As an active community leader supporting many social, academic and charitable causes I have lived in downtown Toronto for over 25 years including 18 years in Cabbagetown.
In 2004, after an incident in a local park involving my then two year old daughter, an incident the city could have easily prevented, I successfully led an extensive campaign to get the city to clean up the syringes and condoms left in our parks and increase security patrols. I then co-founded the Don Vale Cabbagetown Residents Association in 2005. By 2009, at the end of my term as a board director, the association had grown to about 500 members.
I am also a long time member of the Toronto Police Service 51 Division Community Police Liaison Committee working on increasing community engagement in safety and security and crime prevention initiatives. I created Safe Streets – Stronger Communities, an organization focused on how pervasive street crime negatively affects communities and advocating for more effective ways for courts to recognize communities as victims of crime.
I volunteer my time for many non-profit organizations and charitable causes including:
- Cabbagetown Preservation Association
- Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum
- The Hospital for Sick Children
- The United Way
I believe advancing education and research are key goals for Toronto’s future success. I support the Marcel Desautels Centre for Integrative Thinking at the Rotman School of Management by coaching MBA candidates in their capstone course.
I am often saying we need to “Lead by Example” so in the 2006 municipal election I ran for City Council for Ward 28, finishing second. I was and continue to be extremely proud of my team and of our vision for Toronto. Could of used a few more votes though! I believe it’s a great experience to run for public service and I encourage all individuals to get involved.
I am continuing to stand up for and fight for local residents by establishing the Toronto Neighbourhoods Leadership Council, an advocacy organization to bridge the widening gap between neighbourhoods and government.
I am President of Miller Bortenstein Consultants Inc., an information technology and management consulting firm that I founded in 2000. We specialize in strategic planning and change management. Prior to this, I held several senior management positions in the financial services industry leading major organizational change programs.
I am married to Descia and we have two young daughters ages 6 and 8.
