Calgary Muslim Mayor Wins World Mayor Prize
“He (Nenshi) is an urban visionary who doesn’t neglect the nitty-gritty of local government,” the City Mayors Foundation, a London-based international think tank, said in a release cited by CanIndia on Thursday, February 5.
“For many in North America and indeed Europe, Mayor Nenshi is a role model for decisive management, inclusivity and forward thinking.”
Nenshi, the first Canadian mayor to win the award, was followed by Daniël Termont, Mayor of Ghent, Belgium, and Mayor Tri Rismaharini of Surabaya, Indonesia.
The award, announced every two years, included a list of 10 mayors from across the globe who stand out in terms of public support.
“This is a wonderful, unexpected honor from The World Mayor Project. Thank you to the many Calgarians and people from around the world who took the time to nominate me for this award,” Nenshi said.
“It speaks to their own engagement, as citizens, in making our city a great place of opportunity for all.
“Of course, the most important indicator of success for any politician is the improvement of the lives the people they represent. I continue to work hard to make Calgary an even better city, and that work is far from over,” he added.
Nenshi became the first Muslim mayor of a major North American city in 2010. Despite of smear campaigns against him, Calgarians supported him against racists.
He is currently serving his second term and is Calgary’s 36th mayor.
Nenshi was born in Toronto and raised in Calgary to parents of Tanzanian origin.
He attended Harvard University, and at the age of 22 was hired by one of the world's top consulting firms.
He has retired from the company after eight years to get back to his hometown Calgary and be with his ailing father.
He has since worked for the United Nations, started his own business, and became a professor at the city’s Mount Royal University.
Source: On Islam
