To the Residents of Pickering Ward 1,

It is my pleasure to offer my wholehearted endorsement of James Blair for Pickering City Council, Ward 1

I have known James for more than fifteen years, having first met him in the fall of 2010 through a mutual friend who recognized our shared passion for food systems, local agriculture, food security, and building stronger, healthier communities.

From our very first conversations, it became clear that James understood something many people overlook: food is not simply about what appears on our dinner table. Food is directly connected to public health, education, local economies, environmental stewardship, municipal planning, agriculture, and the long-term sustainability of our communities. James recognized that communities become stronger when they support local farmers, protect productive farmland, and ensure future generations have access to healthy, locally produced food.

Soon after we met, I became involved in supporting James with the Dunbarton High School Farmers' Market and later the highly successful Chef Challenge hosted at Dunbarton High School. These initiatives brought together farmers, students, chefs, educators, local businesses, community organizations, and volunteers in a way that demonstrated James' remarkable ability to unite people around a common purpose. His leadership created opportunities for students to better understand where their food comes from while strengthening the connection between agriculture and the community.

James' commitment to local agriculture extended well beyond the classroom. He played an important role in supporting local farmers and was instrumental in helping establish the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus Farmers' Market. His efforts consistently focused on creating stronger connections between local food producers and consumers while encouraging residents to support agriculture within our own region. Together, we became founding members of the Durham Food Policy Council. The Council was created to bring together representatives from agriculture, public health, education, municipalities, environmental organizations, businesses, and community agencies to develop long-term strategies that would strengthen Durham Region's food system.

Our shared vision was to improve access to healthy food, support local farmers and food processors, encourage sustainable agricultural practices, strengthen food security, promote food literacy and education, reduce food insecurity, and protect agricultural lands that are vital to the future of Durham Region.

James understood that a healthy food system is not simply an agricultural issue—it is an economic, environmental, health, and municipal planning issue. He consistently advocated for policies that recognized the importance of preserving prime agricultural land while encouraging responsible growth that protects both taxpayers and future generations.

One of the qualities I have always admired about James is his ability to look beyond today's challenges and consider their long-term consequences. He understands that productive farmland is one of Ontario's most valuable natural and economic assets. Once it is lost to urban development, it is lost forever. Protecting farmland is not simply about preserving open space—it is about protecting food production, supporting local businesses, preserving rural communities, maintaining environmental sustainability, and ensuring future food security.

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James also appreciates the financial realities associated with municipal growth. Responsible planning requires balancing development with the long-term costs of servicing new communities. Uncontrolled urban sprawl often results in significant expenditures for roads, water and wastewater infrastructure, transit, emergency services, schools, parks, and ongoing municipal maintenance. These long-term obligations can place increasing financial pressure on future taxpayers. James has consistently demonstrated an understanding that protecting strategic agricultural lands and encouraging well-planned, fiscally responsible development are complementary goals that help create financially sustainable municipalities.

Our work together also led us to become co-founders of the Durham Culinary Association, where James continued building partnerships between education, agriculture, culinary professionals, and the broader community. Through his leadership as an educator and through his student exchange initiatives, James developed meaningful relationships between local Pickering youth and their families with Indigenous and First Nations students in Waswanipi, Quebec. His interest in learning about traditional food systems, Indigenous knowledge, and food sovereignty further demonstrated his respect for diverse cultures and his belief that communities become stronger when they learn from one another.

Throughout the years I have known James, I have been consistently impressed by his ability to communicate effectively with people from every background. He is an exceptional listener who brings people together, earns their trust, and finds practical solutions to complex issues. Whether working with farmers, educators, municipal officials, business leaders, students, or community volunteers, James has always demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and genuine respect for others.

As a former Director of Operations for Nestlé Canada, I have worked alongside many capable professionals throughout my career. James distinguishes himself because of his ability to quickly understand complicated issues, build meaningful partnerships, facilitate productive discussions, and move ideas into action. These are qualities that are essential for effective municipal leadership.

Although my wife, Julie, and I have since moved away from Pickering, we spent over 30 years wonderful years living in the Rougemount community. We remember the strong sense of community that first attracted us to Pickering. James understands that same spirit because Pickering is not simply the city where he works—it is the community that he and his young family proudly call home. His commitment to the future of Pickering is personal. Like every parent, he wants to see the city remain a safe, vibrant, financially responsible community where families can thrive, neighbourhoods remain connected, and future generations enjoy the same quality of life that first attracted many of us to Pickering. He genuinely cares about residents, listens carefully to their concerns, and consistently speaks on behalf of ordinary people. Even though we no longer call Pickering home, we remain confident that James Blair possesses the experience, integrity, knowledge, and leadership necessary to represent the residents of Ward 1 with distinction. His understanding of agriculture, food security, education, municipal governance, fiscal responsibility, environmental stewardship, and community development provides him with a unique perspective that would greatly benefit the City of Pickering.

Perhaps what impresses me most is that James has never viewed public service as a means of personal recognition. Throughout the many years that I have known him, his focus has always been on serving others, building partnerships, supporting local farmers, strengthening communities, and leaving things better than he found them. Those are qualities that cannot be taught—they are qualities of character. I am proud to endorse James Blair for Pickering Ward 1 City Council. I believe he has demonstrated throughout his career that he is committed to building stronger communities, protecting valuable agricultural lands, supporting local farmers, encouraging responsible municipal growth, and ensuring that future generations inherit a healthy, financially sustainable, and vibrant City of Pickering.

For these reasons, I encourage the residents of Ward 1 to place their confidence in James Blair. I believe Pickering will be exceptionally well served by having him represent its citizens at City Hall. His integrity, experience, vision, and genuine commitment to public service make him the kind of leader every community hopes to have representing its interests.

Sincerely,

Oskar Rutishauser
Former Director of Operations
Nestlé Canada