Friday, May 13, 2016

MPP: Joe Dickson - Ajax Pickering

Joe DicksonDear Lord, thank you for Dear Lord, thank you for Joe Dickson and his desire to serve the people of Ontario. We ask that you give him renewed energy and dedication in his responsibilities and passions as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines. Help Joe to understand the needs that are unmet in his community and bless him and his family with joy. Amen.

In 2014, Joe Dickson was re-elected for a third term as the MPP of Ajax-Pickering and appointed Ontario’s Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for Northern Development & Mines (Including the Ring of Fire).

Joe Dickson was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 2007, representing the riding of Ajax-Pickering. Before entering provincial  politics, he served as the Councillor for Ajax in Ward 2.

For over 40 years, Dickson has devoted himself to serving his community. He began in local politics as a 2 term Catholic School Board Trustee in 1969 and 1970. His public service also includes 7 terms as an Ajax Councillor, and 1 term as Regional Councillor and Deputy-Mayor of Ajax. Along the way, Joe has chaired or initiated over 41 non-profit community groups and boards.


As a successful small businessman, Joe Dickson understands the needs of that sector of our economy and the concerns of the community for its economic well being. As a teenager, 53 years ago he started Dickson Printing, eventually becoming the Canadian chairman of the Stationers Marketing of Canada, a group of 47 office product retailers in ten provinces.  Joe was also elected to the Canadian Office Products Association (COPA) Executive.

A devoted community volunteer, Joe has founded or chaired many charitable and civic organizations, including: Durham’s Waste Reduction Week Challenge; Easter Seals Timmy Dinner; Industrial Cancer Drive; Kinsmen Skate-A-Thon; Ajax Home Week (now in its 44th year); Ajax Environmental Affairs Week, and at 15 years is the longest serving Chair ever of the Ajax Waterfront Committee.  Truly Joe has earned his nickname as “Mr. Ajax”.

Joe Dickson has always been a strong supporter of healthy exercise and athletic competition for both young and old. He continues to sponsor an average of 22 children’s, women’s and men’s sports teams annually.  Dickson has sponsored over 1,000 teams here for 52 years, including baseball, basketball, bowling, softball, soccer, hockey, ringette and lacrosse.  These sports are at various youth levels including rep, house league, and all-star, as well as men’s, women’s and old-timer’s divisions.

Dickson’s dedication and service to the community has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Queen Elizabeth 50th Anniversary Medal in 2002, in addition to Canada’s 125th anniversary medal in 1992 and the Ajax Civic Award as the outstanding citizen of the year. Recently, he was honoured to receive the 2012 Queen’s 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Medal. Joe Dickson’s commitment to you and to our community has gone far beyond the political world.

During his first term as MPP, 2007 to 2011, Dickson served as Government Deputy Whip.  Following his re-election in 2011 as the MPP for Ajax-Pickering, he was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for Seniors. In 2013 with the new government of Premier, Kathleen Wynne, Joe was immediately appointed to the busy position of Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for Natural Resources.  Shortly thereafter, Joe was appointed to the position of Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for Citizenship & Immigration and was asked to Chair with Helen Burstyn, the Ontario Volunteer Strategy including roundtable discussions across Ontario, by Premier Wynne.  The final report is due this fall.

Joe was born the oldest of 10 children to Mary and Lou Dickson shortly before the family moved to Ajax. He has lived in Ajax his entire life with his wife of 49 years, Donna. They are proud to have two grown children, Jim (Elaine) and Joanna (David) and 5 grandchildren. Joe Dickson’s life of service and commitment to the Ajax-Pickering community has been and continues to be a rewarding one.

http://joedickson.onmpp.ca/Biography

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