Ben Verkaik is running for a second term on Town Council to continue representing Ward 3 with the same focus on:
• Open, honest and timely communication with Ward 3 residents
Over the past four years Ben consistently responded to residents’ questions and concerns quickly and worked with the appropriate Town staff to get answers and resolve issues.
• Keeping property taxes reasonable while protecting the services Ward 3 residents rely on
Our property tax rate ranks 8 among 16 comparable municipalities in the region and remains below direct comparators such as New Tecumseth and Innisfil. Ben has always fought for efficient budgeting and keeping taxes low.
• Protecting the rural character of Ward 3, preserving farmland and safeguarding the historic character of Bond Head
Ben has consistently opposed rezoning lands outside settlement areas where it would result in unnecessary loss of farmland. As chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee, he supported property designations and a sensible Bond Head Heritage Conservation District to preserve the community’s cultural heritage. Ben has also brought forward the addition of an elevator and accessible washrooms for the historic Bond Head Hall.
• Focusing planned growth in and around the Bradford urban area while supporting more affordable housing
Ben supported increased density within the Bradford settlement area and has only supported rezoning outside it where there was a clear community need, including lands for the new high school. He also supported affordable housing initiatives through his work on the Anti-Poverty Steering Committee.
• Advancing industrial development to create local jobs and strengthen the non-residential tax base
Ben has supported development of our employment lands and met with the Province and Hydro One to help address the electrical capacity constraints limiting industrial growth. We need to ensure that ICI development outpaces residential growth to reduce the burden on the residential tax base.
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• Maintain our roads, completing infrastructure projects on time and reducing traffic congestion
Ben successfully advocated for the widening of Line 8 and Sideroad 10 to four lanes from Reagens Industrial Parkway to Barrie Street. He also initiated a 10-year infrastructure strategy for paving gravel roads and revived the rural intersection streetlighing project.
Ben Verkaik
currently serves as Ward 3 Councillor for the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury. A lifelong resident, he was raised in the Holland Marsh and has lived on Line 4 in Ward 3 for the past two decades. Together with his wife, Jeannette, they raised their 3 children in Bradford West Gwillimbury and now enjoy time with their 3 grandchildren.
Ben is an honours graduate of Bradford District High School and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. He is a licensed Professional Engineer with over 35 years of experience in manufacturing management.
During this Council term, Ben served as Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee, Vice-Chair of the Holland Marsh Drainage System Joint Municipal Service Board and as member of the Green Initiatives Advisory Committee and Strategic Initiatives Committee.
His community service includes nine years on Church Council at Springdale Christian Reformed Church and ten on the Board of Directors at King Christian School, including six years as Chair of the Building Committee for the new school on Bathurst Street. He currently serves on the school’s Finance Committee and is a member of Sovereign Grace Church.
Ben is also Chair of the Board of Directors of WOW-Living, which supports local residents through the Hand Up Clothing Room, Out of the Cold Café and Overnight Warming Centre. He serves on the BWG Anti-Poverty Steering Committee and has volunteered three times with World Renew Disaster Response Services helping rebuild homes damaged by tornados and floods.
Mobile: (416) 702-4637
Email: ben.verkaik1@gmail.com
Website: www.benverkaik.com
Voter Info: www.townofbwg.com/election
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