Dave Ryan, the Mayor of the City of Pickering yesterday announced that he has been making “great srtrides” and will be resuming his duties later this summer.
He has taken time off to recover from a lung transplant.
“I want to offer my heartfelt appreciation to all of you for your kindness and support over the past two months as I have been recovering from my life-saving lung transplant. I am extremely fortunate to be in this position, and I would not be here today if not for the outstanding professionalism and care that I had received from the physicians, nurses, and staff at Toronto General Hospital; and also the power of your prayers,” said Mayor Ryan in an issued statement.
“I am making great strides, and as such, I anticipate resuming my full-time duties as mayor in the summer. I would like to acknowledge and thank Deputy Mayor Kevin Ashe and all members of council for the tremendous job they have been doing in managing the city’s response to the pandemic. A special thank you also goes out to our emergency responders, healthcare heroes, and frontline workers for protecting and serving our community,” he said.
He said during his absence, he has been in regular contact with Deputy Mayor Ashe and staff with respect to Pickering’s key projects such as Durham Live and City Centre, and is pleased with the progress.
Extremely motivated to address systemic racism
“Moving forward, I am extremely motivated to address the problem of systemic racism. The disturbing killing of George Floyd has sparked a worldwide cry for real and meaningful change. We need to work together if we’re going to create an equal and just society for all, but first, we need to address the trauma realized in our Black community.
“While we don’t have the answers now, we look to engage with our residents, businesses, and stakeholders to address the root causes of this ugly problem, and take pro-active measures to fight racial inequality. I acknowledge this won’t be an easy fix, but the time for passive outrage is over. We need to take a stand now to create a better society for future generations,” said Mayor Ryan.
“Once again, thank you all for giving me strength during my health crisis. I know it hasn’t been easy for you either. COVID-19 has exacted a terrible toll as many of us have lost friends and loved ones to this pandemic. While we are still in mourning, we have shown extraordinary resilience, faith, and courage. I am humbled and so very proud of how our community has come together during this crisis, and I look forward to the day when we can see each other again,” he added.
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