David Neumann
Ward 5 Councillor
City Hall
100 Wellington Square
P.O. Box 818
Brantford, Ontario
N3T 5R7
519-759-7885 tel
226-388-0009 cell
519 759-7840 fax
Email Dave Neumann
Profile
David was born in Montreal, the son of immigrant parents. He grew up on a dairy farm in Norfolk County, after his father decided take up farming by moving the family to Ontario. They settled in Norfolk County, where David attended Villa Nova Public School and Waterford District High School. He received his BA from McMaster University, and took teacher training at the University of Toronto and earned his specialist certificate at the University of Western Ontario in London. He began his teaching career at Grimsby High School. In 1967 he accepted a teaching position in the History Department at Pauline Johnson CVS, moving to Brantford a few months later. David and Elfrieda have been married for 45 years. They have three adult children, Larissa, Tracy and Marc, and four grandchildren. Family occasions are very important to them. Three of David’s five siblings also live (or have lived) in Brantford.
Previous Community Involvment
David and Elfrieda have always been involved in the community, and David’s passion for community betterment motivated him to seek election to Brantford City Council, where he served as Alderman for Ward Five from 1976-80; in 1980, he was elected mayor, and then re-elected in 1982 and 1985, resigning in 1987 to become MPP for Brantford (1987-90). During his terms on council he served on numerous committees and boards including the Parks & Recreation board, Brantford General Hospital, the Brantford Police Commission and the Brantford-Brant Local Government negotiations team, which he led. He was active on the board of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), becoming the first chair of the Large Urban Section of AMO. At Queens Park, David was Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Chair of the all-party Standing Committee on Social Affairs, which was responsible for holding hearings on legislation proposed for social services, health care and education.
In 1990, David worked in the Contract Training division of Mohawk College, before returning to Pauline Johnson Collegiate in early 1992. During his final four years with the Brant County Board of Education, David worked as Community Training Liaison Officer, a new position established to make creative use of under-utilized board facilities by providing training and education initiatives for unemployed adults and new immigrants. From 1998-2005, he worked as Executive Director for CESBA, a province-wide organization of school board administrators responsible for delivering an array of adult literacy, upgrading, and training initiatives. His interests and hobbies include photography, choral singing, genealogy and family history. Recent community involvement includes Kiwanis and the Brant County Museum & Archives.
Committees In December 2010, having been re-elected to city council after a 23 year absence, David was appointed to the following committees, boards, advisory committees and task forces:
- Committee of the Whole - Operations and Administration
- Committee of the Whole - Community Services
- Estimates Committee
- Appointments Committee
- Social Services Committee
- Sanderson Centre Board
- Brantford Cultural Advisory Committee
- Environmental Policy Advisory Committee
- Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Advisory Committee
- Post-Secondary Education Advisory Committee
- Transit Liaison Advisory Committee
- Children's Memorial Garden Study Group
- Community Safety and Crime Prevention Task Force
- Study Group to Make Brantford the Most Walkable Downtown in Canada (alternate)
- Community Services Committee (Ambulance)
My Goals
I will endeavour to serve the needs of ward five and the city of Brantford to the best of my ability.