Recognition of Achievement, Ashley Borzellino
Kevin Davis, Mayor for the City of Brantford and Councillor Rose Sicoli presented Ashley Borzellino of Brantford, with a Recognition of Achievement during the council meeting.
Borzellino is a certified technician and an Inspector/Operator for the City of Brantford who was crowned as Miss Canada 2023 back in May of last year.
“We’re officially recognizing Ashley Borzellino for her outstanding achievements and her dedication to making a difference in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics community, commonly known as STEM,” said Davis. “She’s a certified technician with the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists and is working towards her certified engineering technologist designation. She’s a member of Women in STEM Committee and has been working as a construction inspector for over five years.”
Borzellino is also a spokesperson for the Kids Now program, and supports low-income families through Opération Enfant Soleil.
“As Miss Canada 2023, Ashley is using her platform to advocate for occupational diversity with the objective of raising awareness and increasing women’s participation in STEM. In Canada, approximately 20 per cent of the employees in STEM fields are female, and only five per cent work on site. We can change that, and we must change that,” said Sicoli. “The theme of this year’s Women’s Day campaign is inspiring inclusion, and Ashley’s commitment to breaking gender norms and societal boundaries is truly inspiring. As part of her Miss Canada journey, she is sharing her experiences to inspire others to step outside their comfort zones and consider opportunities that transcend stereotypes.”
Borzellino thanked the council and inspired others to try new things.
“If you really put yourself out there and if you believe in yourself, eventually your goals will align with each other and that’s what we’re witnessing today. …Starting off, this was something new to me and something that I had never done. Nobody in my family has ever done this before, so it really was just me starting from scratch and going for it,” said Borzellino. “Of course, there were obstacles along the way, not just from being a woman, but just from lack of experience and I’ve had to overcome that as a whole, and as women we’ve had to overcome that. … There is still some growth to be done, but I believe that with this new mindset, and with others, like myself stepping into roles, we can encourage others to also do that.”
She encouraged others to share their journeys and to uplift each other.
“You don’t have to be a woman to encourage other women,” she said. “…So share your journeys, share your experiences, let them know what the advantages are, and even what the disadvantages are. I find what actually brings more people on board is, if you’re open and you’re honest and you explain what challenges you’ve had, and how you’ve overcome them and how you how they’ve made you grow as an individual, and I think that’s really encouraging.”
Earth Hour
City of Brantford councillors proclaimed that “Earth Hour” will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Council will recognize “Earth Hour” from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on March 23.
The initiative was first started by the World Wildlife Fund back in 2007 Sydney, Australia, and has since grown into a global event with more than 192 countries and over 1.3 billion people worldwide participating.
The day is designed to encourage individuals, businesses and governments around the world to turn off all non-essential lights for one hour.
The goal of the hour is to demonstrate that individual action, on a mass scale, can help to positively impact the planet by raising awareness and sparking global conversations on protecting nature, tackling the climate crisis and working together to shape a brighter future for all.
Brantford residents are encouraged to participate by shutting of non-essential lights, picking up trash at a local park, planting a tree or by cooking a dinner with sustainable ingredients.
Municipal Procurement Month
Councillors have declared the month of March as “Municipal Procurement Month” in the City of Brantford.
The month provides an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of procurement professionals, while promoting awareness of the importance of sound procurement practices.
The proclamation stated that municipal government procurement professionals play a crucial role in ensuring transparency, fairness and accountability in the procurement process, and the efficient and effective procurement of goods, services and construction projects is vital to the success and growth of municipalities.
The month will serve as a platform to educate the public about the benefits of strategic procurement, and the positive impact it has on municipal operations and taxpayer dollars.
From March 1 to March 7, City Hall will be illuminated green in recognition of the month.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
