THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS --OH MY!
TWO articles about The Corporation of the City of Mississauga --OH MY!
These are FUN!
City drops $50,000 on losing cause
The Mississauga News article begins:
"By: The Mississauga News
December 9, 2007 - Mississauga lost the contest, and $50,000.After sending five City representatives, including Mayor Hazel McCallion, to London, England, and after spending $22,000 on a video to impress the foreign judges, Mississauga came up short at the World Leadership Forum.
The City was competing in the Education and Development of the Young category but lost to Lima, Peru.
Mississauga was nominated for the Swim to Survive program."
[ED: OOPS HEALTHY CITY LOGO REMOVED because I was told never to use any Mississauga Corporate logos. Apologies. I forgot.]
OK, HERE'S THE GOODS ON THE WORLD LEADERSHIP AWARD FORUM
The reality is that people haven't a clue about these awards. You need to go to the World Leadership Award website to see What Is. And that's all it takes --a simple surf to discover the truth.
Last year, Mississauga applied for the Health Category using their Healthy City Stewardship Center "Ensuring a Healthy City" thingie. Mississauga was "short-listed" with Madrid, Spain, and Lima, Peru.
Mississauga "won" in 2006 and trumpeted their achievement to the planet --not to mention their SUCCESS IN THE CITY 2006 brochure. In that glossy, glitzy document it states:
"City Of Mississauga 2006 Corporate Awards
World Leadership Award in the health category, for its Healthy City Stewardship Centre initiative - a collaboration with 14 member organizations - from the World Leadership Forum in London, England."
When you surf to the World Leadership Award website, you''ll find that Mississauga has once again entered. This time it was "Education & Development of the Young" and here's the "short list":
Education & Development of the Young
City of Lima - Young Lima
City of Mississauga - Swim to Survive
There isn't even a THIRD city short-listed like there was last year.
Like. Get it?
And notice who's there again for 2007? --Lima, Peru.
Like. Get it?
For two years in a row, Mississauga went up against a city whose average salary for a police officer is about $200 a month. I mean --seriously.
To me awards are something you win based on someone recognizing your excellence or contributions or something. But no, for $6,500 your city can apply and perhaps even "buy" a World Leadership Award --if there's no other city competing against you.
Anyway...
I searched my email stack and just can't find this but last year if memory serves, I emailed that World Leadership Awards Forum and I asked besides Madrid and Lima, Peru what other cities Mississauga was competing against for their "Healthy City Stewardship" award.
Got a message back that such info isn't revealed.
And see for yourself. The World Leadership Awards Website says:
"PUBLICATION OF NON-SHORTLISTED CITIESThe list of cities which fail to reach the shortlists will remain confidential and will not be published at any time."
That ensures that people never know how many other cities are in the competition in a particular category.
Fortunately it IS obvious this year given that only two cities were short-listed for their Education & Development of the Young. There's every indication that there were just two "short-listed" cities actually competing in the Youth category. Lima, Peru and Mississauga. (After all, if you were a third city and you "invested" $6,500 wouldn't you be ****ed if you didn't at least be the "short-listed" #3?)
Yep, it's 99.9% certain that Mississauga was only up against Lima --a two city "race" that Mississauga spent $50,000 on.
And not only did Mississaugans spend $50,000. for what looks to be a two-city "award" "competition", Mississauga had to have spent an amount quite close to that last year, no? (I really should check...)
But the BEST part is the Mississauga press release from one year ago.
"Mississauga's Healthy City Initiative Wins World Leadership Award
The City of Mississauga won the 2006 World Leadership Award for its Healthy City Stewardship Centre (HCSC) initiative in a ceremony held yesterday in the Royal Courts of Justice in London, England. The announcement was made before a number of guests including His Excellency Mr. James R. Wright, High Commissioner for Canada to the United Kingdom and other distinguished guests."
I mean, face it. It's entirely possible that last year there were only three cities competing for the World Leadership Health Category. Mississauga Canada, Madrid Spain and Lima Peru.
BUT WAIT. IT GETS BETTER!
There's another article in the Mississauga News on the hiring of the closed meeting investigator.
Watchdog not wanted by City
Mississauga not wanting the Ontario Ombudsman "Watchdog". Gee. I can't imagine why...
Oooh look! Check out the World Leadership Awards 2007 category for Communication.
Communication
City of Chennai - School AIDS Programme
City of Lyon - Only Lyon
Looks like just two cities entered... (an opportunity!)
MESSAGE TO MISSISSAUGA COUNCIL
YO! BIG YELLOW! For 2008 plop down $6,500 and enter your Com-Crew in the World Leadership Awards Communication Category. I'll even help write their material for them! Free! No charge!
Your project can be something like "MISSISSAUGA --Commitment to Transparency and Accountability". And instead of spendin' $20,000 for your video presentation, I'll provide you with a 15-minute video for FREE.
HMMMM THIS GIVES ME AN IDEA. I should really start a ---
MISSISSAUGA WATCH Prestigious Awards 2008
Entry fee $2,500 (All that photocopying for Freedom of Information is killing me and I could use some "sponsorship")
MISSISSAUGAWATCH PELCO AWARD
Presented for outstanding covert video surveillance strategic planning.
MISSISSAUGAWATCH FAUX-POLICE CAR AWARD
Presented to the city whose security/enforcement cars best mimic their police services vehicles.
MISSISSAUGAWATCH NEWSPAPER AWARD ($5,000 entry fee)
Presented to the city that consistently dekes-out local, national and international newspapers, TV stations and other related traditional media.
LOVE, The (Ya ain't dekin' me out, Big Yellow) Mississauga Muse
P.S. Returning to the Mississauga News:
"Ward 9 councillor Pat Saito said last week she wasn’t aware of the cost of the trip before the delegations left. Saito said that although it was an honour to be shortlisted for the "prestigious" award, "it should not cost the city that much to earn it.”
YO! Councillor Saito. Being one of two in a "competition" that you had to pay $6,500 to enter ain't a "prestigious" award. It doesn't pass the "reasonable person test", let alone The Stink Test, lady.
Second? "Earn it"? "EARN IT"?! HAHAHAHAHAHHAA...
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"Trust. Quality. Excellence. The City of Mississauga's values are fundamental to the relationships we have with all our stakeholders and serve as the guiding principles for the City's corporate decision-making process." --City of Mississauga Our Values
"We must employ every possible tactic to dissuade those who try to silence us with fear" ---The Mississauga News Editorial (2007-03-24)
FOR READERS' COMMENTS --SCROLL TO VERY BOTTOM OF THIS ENTRY.
"MISSISSAUGA --HOWZIT'S GOING" CARTOON ARCHIVE
Links to all previous cartoons in the Mississauga Howzit's Going series.
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