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Life before mayorship
Katz emigrated to Winnipeg in November 1951 as an infant with his parents, Chaim and Zena Katz, and his older brother David and was raised in North Winnipeg.[2] Shortly after graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics from the University of Manitoba, he opened a retail clothing store in Brandon, Manitoba.[2] Throughout his career he continued his entrepreneurial ventures in real estate and entertainment.[2] His entertainment company, Showtime Productions Inc., brought artists such as Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney, and musicals such as Evita, Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera to Winnipeg.[2][3]
In 1994, he brought professional baseball back to Winnipeg with the Winnipeg Goldeyes, who now play in the Northern League.[3] Through this franchise, he arranged for the construction and success of CanWest Global Ball Park in 1999.[3] Katz was also founder of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation,[4] an organization that has donated more than a $900,000 to children's charities and non-profit organizations in Manitoba.[5]
Mayor of Winnipeg
On June 22, 2004, Katz was elected as the first Jewish mayor of Winnipeg.[2] He beat out prominent politicians Dan Vandal, Al Golden, and MaryAnn Mihychuk for the job by receiving 42% of the vote.[6] This came after the resignation of Glen Murray as mayor of Winnipeg to run in the 2004 federal election.[6]
Katz was re-elected to a second term in the 2006 elections on October 25, 2006.[7]
Mayoral decisions
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Katz cancelled plans for bus rapid transit with a bicycle lane through South Winnipeg, he supported a new suburban neighborhood, Waverley West, and he proposed to make land available for residential development in Assiniboine Park.
Criticism
After referring to Winnipeg's five female Olympic medal-winners as "beautiful females" whose close-up presence made him "feel like Hugh Hefner",[8] Katz was criticized by a women's studies professor at the University of Manitoba. Reaction from the citizens of Winnipeg was mixed, with some agreeing with the criticism and others disagreeing.[8]
Katz is the target of humour in a song by The Consumer Goods.[9] Their song And the Final Words are Yours, Sam Katz was entered in medium rotation at a number of local radio stations and offers Katz ironic sympathy for the difficulties of running "a city, a business and a baseball team", the use of Malathion for mosquito fogging, and a military training exercise (Operation Charging Bison).[9]
Katz has also come under fire from the City's French-speaking population after removing a bilingual requirement from the criteria for awarding a restaurant license on the Esplanade Riel bridge and backing away from earlier promises to help fund a French-language theatre.[10]
Six days before the Winnipeg City Council voted on the city's operating budget, Katz revised it. This drew criticism from councillor Jenny Gerbasi and the Manitoba director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Adrienne Batra.[11]
Honours
In 2002, Katz was presented with the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.[3] In 2003 he received the University of Manitoba Distinguished Alumnus Award. In 2004, he was given the province's highest honour, the Order of Manitoba, for demonstrating an ability to improve the social, cultural and economic well being of Manitoba and its residents.[4]
Katz was longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor award.
Personal life
Sam was married to Baillie, with whom he's had two daughters (born in 2001 and 2005).[12] Katz began divorce proceedings with his wife on October 26, 2006 — one day after his reelection.[12]
References
- ^ "About Sam". Retrieved on 2007-07-01.
- ^ a b c d e Bellan, Matt. "Sam Katz, Winnipeg's first Jewish mayor, expressed mixed feelings on election night", The Jewish Post and News. Retrieved on 2007-07-01.
- ^ a b c d "Past Recipients of the President's Award". Winnipeg Press Club. Retrieved on 2007-07-01.
- ^ a b "News Release: Eleven Manitobans to receive Order of Manitoba". Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba (2004-07-15). Retrieved on 2007-07-02.
- ^ "Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation". Retrieved on 2007-07-02.
- ^ a b "Katz wins mayoral race", CBC (2004-06-23). Retrieved on 2007-07-01.
- ^ "City of Winnipeg 2006 Election Results" 8 (2006-10-26). Retrieved on 2007-07-02.
- ^ a b "Winnipeg Mayor ripped for 'Hefner' comment at Olympic tribute", Winnipeg Free Press (2006-04-12). Retrieved on 2007-07-01.
- ^ a b "Singing on a Prairie tune — Local band gets critical of mayor Katz in new song - then gets it on the radio", Uptown Magazine (2007-08-16). Retrieved on 2007-11-23.
- ^ Welch, Mary Agnes (2005-02-18), "Anger grows in St. B", Winnipeg Free Press, <http://www.prairiepublic.org/features/riverwatch/news/winnipeg_press/02_18_05.html>. Retrieved on 5 September 2008
- ^ Kives, Bartley (2007-03-24), "Critics slam Katz over just-released budget info", Winnipeg Free Press, <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/story/4147521p-4737414c.html>. Retrieved on 20 June 2008
- ^ a b "Katz in divorce proceedings, day after re-election", CBC (2006-10-30). Retrieved on 2007-07-02.
External links
| Preceded by Glen Murray |
Mayor of Winnipeg, MB 2004- |
Succeeded by incumbent |
