Naheed Nenshi
Encyclopedia
Naheed Kurban Nenshi is a Canadian politician, who was elected to succeed Dave Bronconnier
as mayor of Calgary
, Alberta
in the 2010 Calgary municipal election
.
, and raised in Calgary
, Alberta
. His parents, Noorjah and Kurban, were South-Asian-origin immigrants to Canada from Tanzania
, and he has a sister.
He was educated at the University of Calgary
, receiving a Bachelor of Commerce
in 1993, and completed a Master of Public Policy
from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University
in 1998. Nenshi worked for McKinsey & Company
for several years before starting his own consulting business.
Nenshi has written about how cities can retain young professionals and co-founded two citizen's groups aimed at improving Calgary's civic government. He was an instructor in non-profit management in the Bissett School of Business at Mount Royal University and wrote a regular municipal affairs column for the Calgary Herald
.
and Twitter
to promote his platform and engage voters. A late September poll showed that his campaign was generating interest as he sat third with 8% support, but well behind the leaders, Alderman Ric McIver
(42%) and local media personality Barb Higgins
(28%). His growing popularity led to greater scrutiny of his views, including a public dispute with Calgary Police Service
chief Rick Hanson over the cost of policing the city.
Days before the election, a Calgary Herald poll showed that Nenshi's grassroots campaign continued to gain momentum as he was shown to have 30% support among decided voters, placing him in a statistical tie with McIver and Higgins. He polled the strongest amongst younger voters, believed to be the result of his social media campaign. Nenshi's surge in popularity carried through to the election itself, as earned 40% of the vote, nearly 28,000 votes ahead of second-place finisher McIver.
Being Ismaili
, Nenshi became the first Muslim
to become mayor of a major Canadian city. His win was viewed as a breakthrough for the use of social media as an election tool, and when considered with his faith and background, made international headlines. Eastern Canada
was particularly surprised given Calgary's conservative image. His election is seen as major signal of the shift in Albertan politics and the make up of Calgary.
Immediately following his win, Nenshi set out four priorities: reforming how city council is run, eliminating the city's deficit, constructing a planned tunnel under a proposed new runway at the Calgary International Airport
, and secure funding for the proposed south-east leg of the city's C-train
system.
Dave Bronconnier
David 'Dave' Thomas Bronconnier is a Canadian politician, who served as the 35th Mayor of Calgary, Alberta.- Biography :...
as mayor of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
in the 2010 Calgary municipal election
Calgary municipal election, 2010
The 2010 Calgary municipal election was held Monday, October 18, 2010 to elect a mayor and 14 aldermen to the city council, the seven trustees to the Calgary School District , and four of the seven trustees to the Calgary Catholic School District . Three incumbent separate school trustees had no...
.
Biography
Nenshi was born in Toronto, OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and raised in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. His parents, Noorjah and Kurban, were South-Asian-origin immigrants to Canada from Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, and he has a sister.
He was educated at the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
, receiving a Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
in 1993, and completed a Master of Public Policy
Master of Public Policy
The Master of Public Policy , one of several public policy degrees, is a master's level professional degree that provides training in policy analysis and program evaluation at public policy schools. The MPP program places a focus on the systematic analysis of issues related to public policy and the...
from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1998. Nenshi worked for McKinsey & Company
McKinsey & Company
McKinsey & Company, Inc. is a global management consulting firm that focuses on solving issues of concern to senior management. McKinsey serves as an adviser to many businesses, governments, and institutions...
for several years before starting his own consulting business.
Nenshi has written about how cities can retain young professionals and co-founded two citizen's groups aimed at improving Calgary's civic government. He was an instructor in non-profit management in the Bissett School of Business at Mount Royal University and wrote a regular municipal affairs column for the Calgary Herald
Calgary Herald
The Calgary Herald is a daily newspaper published in the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.- History :The paper was first published on August 31, 1883 by Andrew Armour and Thomas Braden as The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser. It started as a weekly paper with only...
.
2010 mayoral bid
Nenshi first ventured into politics in 2004, running unsuccessfully for a seat on Calgary's city council. His 2010 campaign for mayor placed an emphasis on using social media sites such as FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
to promote his platform and engage voters. A late September poll showed that his campaign was generating interest as he sat third with 8% support, but well behind the leaders, Alderman Ric McIver
Ric McIver
Ric McIver is municipal politician and businessman from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is a former alderman for Ward 12 on the Calgary City Council. McIver held his post from his election in October 2001 until his run for mayor in October 2010...
(42%) and local media personality Barb Higgins
Barb Higgins
Barbara Joan Higgins is a former newscaster and journalist for Calgary CTV outlet CFCN-TV. A news journalist for 21 years, she stepped down from her job as a CFCN news anchor to enter the Calgary mayoral race on July 23, 2010. Higgins has stated she can no longer stay neutral as a journalist and...
(28%). His growing popularity led to greater scrutiny of his views, including a public dispute with Calgary Police Service
Calgary Police Service
Calgary Police Service, formed in 1885, is the municipal police force for the City of Calgary, Alberta.- Organization :Founded in 1885, the current head of the CPS is Chief Rick Hanson...
chief Rick Hanson over the cost of policing the city.
Days before the election, a Calgary Herald poll showed that Nenshi's grassroots campaign continued to gain momentum as he was shown to have 30% support among decided voters, placing him in a statistical tie with McIver and Higgins. He polled the strongest amongst younger voters, believed to be the result of his social media campaign. Nenshi's surge in popularity carried through to the election itself, as earned 40% of the vote, nearly 28,000 votes ahead of second-place finisher McIver.
Being Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
, Nenshi became the first Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
to become mayor of a major Canadian city. His win was viewed as a breakthrough for the use of social media as an election tool, and when considered with his faith and background, made international headlines. Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada is generally considered to be the region of Canada east of Manitoba, consisting of the following provinces:* New Brunswick* Newfoundland and Labrador* Nova Scotia* Ontario* Prince Edward Island* Quebec...
was particularly surprised given Calgary's conservative image. His election is seen as major signal of the shift in Albertan politics and the make up of Calgary.
Immediately following his win, Nenshi set out four priorities: reforming how city council is run, eliminating the city's deficit, constructing a planned tunnel under a proposed new runway at the Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport, , is the international airport that serves Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the surrounding region; it is situated approximately northeast of downtown Calgary...
, and secure funding for the proposed south-east leg of the city's C-train
C-Train
C-Train is the light rail transit system in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It has been in operation since May 25, 1981. The system is operated by Calgary Transit, a department of the Calgary municipal government.-Operations:...
system.