Adrian Foster (politician)

Adrian Foster is a Canadian politician who has been serving as the 7th and current mayor of Clarington since 2010. As mayor, he also sits on Durham Regional Council.

His Worship Adrian Foster
Foster in 2022
7th Mayor of Clarington
Incumbent
Assumed office December 1, 2010
Preceded by	Jim Abernethy
Clarington Municipal Councillor for Ward 1
In office December 1, 2003 – December 1, 2010
Preceded by	Jane Rowe[1]
Succeeded by	Joe Neal
Constituency	Ward 1
Personal details
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Deborah Foster[2]
Residence	Courtice[2]
Alma mater	University of Toronto Scarborough (BA)
Profession	Politician investment advisor
Website	Mayor's profile

Education

Foster was educated at the University of Toronto Scarborough, where he studied psychology and French, and received a Bachelors of Arts degree in 1983.^[3] After graduating, he worked as a counsellor for developmentally disabled children and their families. He then worked as an investment advisor for 26 years. He also served as the President of the Clarington Board of Trade. He was awarded with the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.^[2]

Political career

Foster first entered politics upon being elected to Clarington's municipal council in 2003,^[4] defeating Suzanne Elston by just over 200 votes in Ward 1.^[5] He was re-elected to council in 2006, winning two-thirds of the vote against Oudit Rai.^[6] He ran on the need for a "central defining feature" for the ward's main community of Courtice, and the need to "get a handle on the planning of the Highway 2 corridor".^[7]

Foster was first elected as Clarington's mayor in the 2010 municipal elections, defeating incumbent mayor Jim Abernethy by fewer than 900 votes, in a close three-way race.^[8] He campaigned promising "working together for a change", and his number one priority was preventing the construction of a garbage incinerator in the municipality.^[9] He was re-elected in 2014 in a close race against former Progressive Conservative MPP John O'Toole, the father of future Conservative Party leader Erin O'Toole. Foster's priorities in 2014 included expanding Go Transit, job creation, bettering quality of life, and developing deeper relationships with other levels of government.^[4] Foster was easily re-elected for a third term in 2018, winning over two-thirds of the vote against Mark Canning.^[10] His priorities have been trying to extend the GO Train to the municipality, renovating Lakeridge Health Bowmanville and building a hospice in Newcastle.^[11] In 2022, he was re-elected for his fourth term, with 42% of the vote.^[12] As of 2022, Foster is the longest serving Mayor of Clarington, surpassing 12 years in office.

As mayor, he has sat as the chair of Durham Region Finance, and as the Chair of the Canadian Association of Nuclear Host Communities.^[2] During his time as mayor, he has led the municipality though rapid growth.^[11]

Personal life

Foster's wife, Deborah is an ordained United Church of Canada minister.^[2]

Electoral record

Mayor, Municipality of Clarington (2022)[13]
Candidate	Votes	%
Adrian Foster	8607	42.5
Joe Neal	6053	29.9
Tom Dingwall	5451	26.9
Mirko Pejic	145	0.7

Mayor, Municipality of Clarington (2018)
Candidate	Votes	%
Adrian Foster	12,507	68.06
Mark Canning	5,259	28.62
Matthew Marshall	610	3.32

Mayor, Municipality of Clarington (2014)
Candidate	Votes	%
Adrian Foster	10,093	53.62
John O'Toole	8,731	46.38

Mayor, Municipality of Clarington (2010)[14]
Candidate	Votes	%
Adrian Foster	6,905	35.51
Jim Abernethy	6,135	31.55
Paul Adams	5,740	29.52
Jeremy Woodcock	664	3.42

Local Councillor - Ward 1, Municipality of Clarington (2006)[15]
Candidate	Votes	%
Adrian Foster	3,978	66.68
Oudit Rai	1,988	33.32

Local Councillor - Ward 1, Municipality of Clarington (2003)[16]
Candidate	Votes	%
Adrian Foster	1,411	27.85
Suzanne Elston	1,202	23.73
Jim Vinson	1,190	23.49
Oudit Rai	1,073	21.18
Gail Syme	190	3.75

References

1. "2000 Clarington Municipal Elections". Clarington. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
2. "Mayor". Clarington. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
3. "MEETING PLACE: Still a Student of Canadian Public Opinion". University of Toronto Scarborough - News and Events. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
4. "Clarington Mayoral candidates Adrian Foster and John O'Toole share their election thoughts on video". toronto.com. October 1, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
5. "2003 Clarington Municipal Elections". Clarington. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
6. "2006 Municipal Elections Municipality of Clarington". Clarington. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
7. "Shopping and taxes among the issues in local Wards 1 and 2". October 11, 2006. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
8. "Foster named new Clarington mayor". durhamregion.com. October 25, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
9. "Leading Clarington mayoral candidate plans the future". The Toronto Observer. October 25, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
10. "Clarington election results 2018". Global News. October 13, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
11. "Clarington voters give Adrian Foster a 3rd term as mayor". Toronto Star. October 23, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
12. "Clarington re-elects Mayor Adrian Foster for the fourth term". DurhamRegion.com. DurhamRegion.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
13. "Clarington Votes Results 2022". Clarington Votes. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
14. "2010 Municipal Election Results". Municipality of Clarington. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
15. "2006 Election Results". Municipality of Clarington. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
16. "2003 Election Results". Municipality of Clarington. Retrieved May 3, 2022.