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Biography
Joe Dickson in 2010
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Raised in Ajax – oldest of 10 children (9 living) of Mary (passed away August 12, 2003) and Lou Dickson.
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Educated in Ajax.
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Earned his living in Ajax (Dickson Printing Ltd.)
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Elected Ajax-Pickering Provincial Member of
Parliament, October 10, 2007.
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Lives in Ajax at 32 McClarnan Road with wife Donna – raised two children, Jim and Joanna.
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69 years young. |
Ajax Community Volunteer
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17th Annual Joe Dickson Golf Tournament for Ajax
charities, 2010
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6th successive year as Chair/Co-Chair in 2009 of
Ajax-Pickering Multiple Sclerosis Walk, raising over
$100,000 each year.
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Elected director Community Foundation of Durham, from
1996 to 2002.
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Co-chair Warren Sun dinner (96’ Ajax Easter Seals “Timmy”).
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Founding chair of the Ajax Family Festival from 1983 to 2008, donating $200,000 for Ajax-Pickering Salvation Army Food Bank, Ajax-Pickering Hospital, Ajax-Pickering United Way, Ajax seniors and youth projects and many other charities in Ajax.
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Longest serving Chair of Ajax Waterfront Advisory Committee 1985 to 2000, the most envied waterfront from Kingston to Toronto.
It was 15 years of preserving a special place.
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Founding chair Ajax Environmental Affairs Week,
active from 1988 to 2009.
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Founding co-chair of Durham Region’s Waste Reduction Week Challenge 1989 to 2008.
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Chairman 1991 Ajax-Pickering Industrial Cancer Drive.
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Founded and chaired first Ajax Kinsmen Skate-a-Thon, raising $290,000 in 14 years in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Publicity Chairman of the Ajax-Pickering United Way 1980.
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Founded Ajax Home Week and chaired event from 1971 to 1973. Also was requested to co-chair 2005 Home Week 35th anniversary, which was
Ajax's 40th anniversary in 2010.
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Ajax representative of Drug Addiction Awareness Week 1983 to 1985.
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Founder of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Drum and Bugle Corps. Championship, held in Ajax in the 1970’s.
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Ajax Teen Town executive.
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Ajax Hi-Teen President. |
Sports
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Sponsor of over 22
youth, women’s & men’s sports teams, including basketball, baseball, slo-pitch, hockey, lacrosse, ringette, soccer and stock car racing.
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First recipient of Town of Ajax's Sport Involvement Award 1978.
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President Ajax/Whitby Industrial Hockey League as a teenager.
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Founder and president of Ajax Minor Basketball Association as a teenager. Some 240 players were registered in four leagues and one All-Star team,
the "Ajax Cagers".
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As a teenager started the Ajax Senior Hockey League which involved four Ajax teams,
playing at Harwood - Hunt Street's outdoor pad.
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Co-chaired Heart and Stroke Business Luncheon 1991, 1992, and 1993.
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Chairman of the Big Brother’s Bowl-a-thon 1992.
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Recipient of the Ajax Kinsmen Life Membership.
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President of Ajax K-40 Kinsmen 1983.
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Active on the Ajax Kinsmen Park (Bryant Road) in 1979 and chaired Ajax Participark feasibility study in 1980.
It was built at Ajax Community Centre.
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Organized Ajax service clubs to donate a new van to the Ajax Salvation Army 1970s
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Chair Ajax Waste Reduction Week, voted Ontario’s Best Waste Reduction Community 1998.
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Initiated and chaired Joint Ajax Service Clubs projects (Kinsmen, Legion, Lions, Optimists, Rotary) for donations to special needs to Ajax children and residents
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Co-chair Ajax-Pickering MS Walk 2004
to 2010. |
Awards
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Ajax Home Week Leadership and Guidance Year Honour Award in 2005
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Recipient Queen Elizabeth 50th Anniversary Medal for Service to
his Community & Canada in 2002
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Ajax Special Volunteer Award 1997.
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Ajax Civic Award, the town’s Outstanding Citizen 1994.
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Awarded Canada’s 125th Anniversary Medal 1992.
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First Ajax Kinsman, to be awarded Kinsman of the Year twice.
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Outstanding Achievement Award for the Ajax, Whitby, Pickering Mental Health Association (now Community Living).
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National Achievement Award recipient for participation and sponsorship of Minor Sports in Canada 1986.
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Ontario Provincial Kinsmen Public Relations Award.
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Citizen of the year awarded by he Ajax Jaycees 1976.
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Outstanding Young Canadian Award 1976. |
Business
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President Dickson Printing 1961 – 2010.
Since Joe's election as MPP, the firm continues growing,
with Paul Dickson as General Manager and Lynne
Parker as Sales Manager.
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Canadian Chairman of Stationers Marketing of Canada, a group of 47 retailers in 8 provinces 1980 to 1991.
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Elected executive member Canadian Office Products Executive 1991.
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Executive of the Business Improvement Area of Downtown Ajax 1984 to 2009.
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Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade 2nd vice President 1991 to 1993.
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Vice Chairman of the Ajax Chamber of Commerce 1978. |
Past Local Government
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Ajax Separate School Board trustee – St. Bernadette’s 1968 - 1972 – 2 terms.
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Ajax
Councillor 1983, 1985, 1988 - 1991. (When Joe voluntarily retired for 2 terms to spend more time on business during early 90’s recession).
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Durham Regional
Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Ajax 1988 – 1990.
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Ajax Ward 2 Councillor 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006.
Left for Queen's Park 2007.
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Chair of Town of Ajax Finance Committee, three times.
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Chair Ajax Community Centre expansion 1988 – 1990.
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Chair St. Andrews Seniors Centre Expansion 1988 – 1990.
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Chair Ajax-Pickering Handi Transit 1988 - 1990.
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Chair Ajax Waterfront Committee. 1985 - 2001.
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Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority Board and Executive member 1983 – 1990
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Town rep Ajax Strategic Recreation Master Plan 1998 - 1999.
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Current and Recent Government
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Ajax-Pickering Member of Provincial Parliament from
October 2007 to 2011.
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Chair Ajax Sportsplex 100-acre development 1998 –
2003.
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Co-Chair McLean Centre expansion 1998 – 2001.
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Town rep Ajax Municipal Housing 1998 – 2008.
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Chair $15,000,000 Ajax Community Centre Expansion 1988 - 1990. |
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Town rep Ajax Ice Users Expansion 1998 – 1999.
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Budget Chair 2000 – WITH ZERO TAX INCREASE! |
Over the years, Joe Dickson initiated or took part in hundreds of community-building projects; he has been the recipient of countless awards, including the town’s Outstanding Achievement Award, the Outstanding Young Canadian Citizen Award, Canada’s 125th Anniversary medal, National Awards for sponsorship and participation of minor Sports in Canada, and the Queen Elizabeth’s 50th Anniversary medal for volunteer participation in Canada and his home community – Ajax!
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