Civil Municipal Magazine - Dec 2023

55 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 city’s ideal geographic location. “We are seeing more and more international companies wanting to move to the great city of Oshawa so that they can have a logistics hub and distribution area with office and transportation needs,” remarks Carter. “We also have a logistics program at Trent University that is training well educated and state of the art technologies that help with logistics and moving it into the future. So, you look at that kind of post secondary education, you look at industry where it’s going, and you can see how our economy continues to grow.” Employment and Economic Prosperity One of Oshawa’s noteworthy achievements is maintaining strong and diverse employment. Affordable living costs and numerous industries actively seeking local talent, make Oshawa a city of opportunities. “We have a diverse community, and that diversity is happening not only in regards to our economy, but also in our population,” says Carter. “We are one of the fastest growing populations in all of Canada, and our community only really covers about 150 square kilometers. So, we’re in a really wonderful time, not only looking back at the 100 years of where we came from, but looking forward at what role we will play in Canada’s economy and our local economy.” The city is dedicated to reducing bureaucracy and adopting a more customer service-oriented approach. The mayor, along with the newly appointed Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Tracy Adams, share this philosophy, and are collaborating to shift the city towards a more service focused perspective. “People expect more out of government today than they ever have, and outstanding customer service will be an important part of it,” Carter depicts. “I’m convinced that as a local government, this is what we need to do. We’re competing across the world, for companies to come here. They’re looking at safe communities that their employees can live in, with good transportation, good opportunities for their family, strong education, good health care, and the opportunity to be able to have an affordable community. I believe that we have positioned ourselves well in that OSHAWA , ONTARIO way. What we need to continue to do is commit ourselves to the customer service component.” Diversity and Cultural Enrichment The diversity of Oshawa’s population is one of its most significant strengths. The city welcomes residents from around the world, creating a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions. “We get people from around the world that are educated differently, that see things differently, that come from different cultures, different food, different dance, different faiths. That mosaic comes into our community, and we’re the direct benefactors of that,” maintains Carter. Fiesta Week, an annual cultural festival showcasing food, dance, and traditions from around the world, is a much anticipated event in the city and is a reflection of the city’s commitment to inclusivity and cultural exchange.