Meet Tom
My family emigrated from Ireland and settled our farm in the 1840’s. My two sons are the sixth generation of our family to live on our property. My father was a farmer, and my mother was a career schoolteacher in Caledon. Their guidance, direction, and hard work served as an example for me as I’ve gone through my life. I was born and raised in Caledon, and after getting a degree in History and Philosophy from Trent University, I pursued a career in the logistics industry. There I worked in various levels of the industry including the hands on labour, supervisory and managerial pieces. I like to think that I’ve always been able to listen and find the right person to work on the right job – and to use their advice and skills to help get things done. In 2003 an effort to get outdoors and find a more rewarding experience I changed my career to masonry. Since 2005, my masonry business has provided all kinds of challenges including physical, logistical and those from a customer service standpoint. I enjoy working with my hands, but more so I love a challenge and love to fix things that are in need of repair – I see that sort of challenge currently in Ward 1.
Inspired by my mother’s work volunteering for various community causes over the years I felt I should try to make my own contributions. So, for 16 years now I’ve been a member of the Caledon Lions Club, and have been on the executive of the club for the past 13 years. I was drawn by the comradery and work ethic such a small group of Caledon residents showed in raising funds for local and international initiatives. Service clubs seem to be a dying thing in our part of the world and I’d really like to see that turned around in Caledon. Service clubs and not-for-profits help a small community to thrive when it does not have the tax base to get everything on its wants and needs list.
I also spent 6 years working as a Cub Scout leader for the 1st Caledon and 1st Alton Scout groups. The experience of the meetings, games, camping and trips has been rewarding – as well as challenging, as I was never a Scout as a youth. After having this great experience, I wish I had done it as a youth, and I wish every kid would at least give it a try.
I’d like now to continue my effort to serve the community by running for Council. I simply would like an opportunity to act as a representative of Ward 1 at Town Council and to use my experience and knowledge of the community to help get council back to work on what matters to the citizens of Caledon. Each little hamlet, village and sideroad in Ward 1 has its challenges and I’m ready to work hard to meet them.
Tom Sweeney