About Councillor Jackson
Councillor Tom Jackson, first elected as a Hamilton City Councillor in 1988 and currently in his 36th year of representing the constituents of Ward 6, is the longest-serving Councillor in the City of Hamilton.
Born and raised in Hamilton to Armenian immigrant parents, he genuinely understands and appreciates the important cultural and economic contributions made by new Canadians and is a long-time supporter of numerous cultural and ethnic groups throughout the City of Hamilton. He speaks Armenian and conversational Russian. He attended Westmount Secondary School and graduated from McMaster University in 1979 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He was an owner of two Second Cup locations in Hamilton and a past employee of Stelco Hilton Works, Production Planning.
Councillor Jackson's motto has been to "continuously improve the quality of life for the people of the east mountain that have given me the honour and privilege to represent them at City Hall as local government provides the most effective opportunity to achieve that."
His personal passions and accomplishments at City Hall have included the Mohawk 4 Ice Centre, South Mountain Community Centre (featuring the Hamilton Public Library Turner Park Branch, Les Chater Family YMCA, and Hamilton Police Service Mountain Station), seniors' programs and facilities, as well as enhancements and expansions of the City's multi-use trail network, particularly at the waterfront and along the East Mountain.
As Councillor Jackson approaches four decades of public service, he continues to avidly pursue infrastructure renewals (sidewalks, road upgrades, and traffic island beautification), parks redevelopment and playground replacements, the expansion of the Hamilton Parks Master Plan and Hamilton Recreational Trails Master Plan, seniors' services, programs and facilities, housing, and a greater police presence in communities.
Current priorities for Councillor Jackson during 2022 to 2026 - his 11th term - include maintaining City service levels for Hamiltonians with minimal increases to property taxes, providing a balanced, moderate approach to City spending. He is also staunchly opposed to the privatization of public facilities and services such as Macassa Lodge, recreation centres, golf courses, libraries, and the Hamilton Street Railway.
Councillor Jackson and his lovely wife Barbara, of Polish descent, reside in Ward 6.