Erin Shapero
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Erin Shapero (b. 1975) is a Canadian politician and political activist. She is currently a municipal councillor on Markham Town Council, in Thornhill Ontario.
First elected to council in the 2000 municipal election at age 25, Shapero ran on an anti-sprawl and environmental platform, pledging to protect the town's natural capital, including watersheds and air quality. She was re-elected to council in 2003 and was the only council member to be acclaimed.
Shapero is noted for her green views and voting record, and for refusing to accept donations from real estate developers, focusing instead on grassroots support from her community. She is the youngest member of the 12-member Council, and the only woman elected to council for a second consecutive term. Shapero speaks out to encourage the political participation of her constituents. She is committed to fostering diverse political engagement by all in society including the voices of youth and women.
She has focused much of her energies on protection of the environment in Markham and the GTA and representing the broad needs of her constituents in Thornhill. She works extensively on the protection of the town’s natural features and sensitive areas including the Don Valley and Rouge River watersheds, the Oak Ridges Moraine as well as the protection of Markham’s remaining farming communities. She is Chair of the Town’s Environmental Issues Committee, Clean Air Committee and Pesticide Reduction Committee, and Co-Chairs Markham’s Kyoto Task force. She is also active in strategic and financial planning in the town, having served as a member of the budget committee for the last 5 years.
Working with GTA councillors Elio Di Iorio and Glenn De Baeremaeker, Shapero is on record as opposing the York Region Big Pipe. She places high value on working cooperatively with constituents, politicians of all political parties, her municipal colleagues, non governmental organizations, community and labour groups.
Prior to her role as municipal councillor, she was Executive Director of Public Spaces, an organization promoting sustainable urban planning across Toronto and GTA.
She holds an honours degree in Environmental Studies from York University.
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