After hearing what Bonnie Crombie said at commencement, I wrote her a letter, as some of you did. I got this e-mail today and would like to share it with you. Dear Jonathan, Let me first thank you for taking the time to write to me about my speech at the Credit Woodlands and for allowing me an opportunity to respond. I understand that concerns have been raised about some of what I said. In no way did I mean to demean the work done by those who work at Starbucks or the value of a Bachelor of Arts degree. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree and it has served me well in my career. What I was trying to emphasize was that in today’s competitive job market employers look for more than a degree. They’re looking for specialization and extracurricular experience that supplements your degree. Whether this comes through continuing education, co-op programs, extracurricular activities or volunteering, it is important to demonstrate a wide range of skills. When I graduated an Arts BA allowed you to pick your career; today this is not the case and I wanted to be sure that students understood this. One of my primary concerns is the unacceptably high youth unemployment rate that in Peel Region is close to 20 per cent. This is unacceptable and tells me that if we do not take action soon, we are at risk of losing a generation of youth. I was encouraging the graduates in the audience to consider their career path and specialize in a discipline. I also wanted to emphasize the value of alternate forms of post-secondary education including college and the trades. I sincerely apologize if I offended you or anyone else – it was certainly not my intention to do so. I spoke at length about my career path because I was asked to do so. I have had some interesting experiences in both public and private life and wanted to share these with the students who will soon be charting their own career paths. Once again, thank you for allowing me the chance to respond to clarify my remarks. I understand how they could have been seen as insensitive and for that I am truly sorry. I wish all of graduates of the Credit Woodlands the best of luck in the future, regardless of what career path they choose. Sincerely, Bonnie Crombie Mayor-Elect City of Mississauga
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 17:25:51 +0000