Biography of Harold Usher
Read about the life of Harold
HAROLD L. H. USHER
- Actively serving the Community for more than 25 years
- Elected Official (City Councillor)
- Professional Engineer (P. Eng.)
- Distinguished Toastmaster
- Inspirational Speaker
- Human Resources Development Trainer
- Personal Development Coach
- Author (Book: "PROSTATE! PROSTATE! PROSTATE! A Problem of Men"
Harold Usher is a City Councillor in London, Ontario CANADA, who with his election in 2000, and re-elections in 2003 and 2006, became the first and only person of African/Caribbean ancestry, or of the African Diaspora, to be elected to London City Council. He is also a Professional Engineer, a Distinguished Toastmaster, an Inspirational Speaker, a Human Resources Development Trainer and an Author.
Harold learned the value of service to humanity early in his life, when in 1962 he joined the Junior Chamber of Commerce (JCC or JCs or Jaycees), in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where he resided at the time. Jaycees is a worldwide non-profit organization of young people ranging in age from 18-40. Harold was Chair of the organization’s “Ways and Means” Committee in Montego Bay. He remained a member of the Montego Bay Chapter until July 1963, when he left Jamaica to reside in Montreal, Quebec Canada. On his arrival in Montreal, he attended a few functions of one of the Montreal Chapters; however, he never took out membership, as he chose to pursue upgrading his education instead.
Harold is a 1972 Civil Engineering graduate of Sir George Williams (subsequently Concordia) University in Montreal, Quebec, CANADA. Soon after graduation, he was recruited by Bell Canada to work in Ontario.
In 1984 he joined Toastmasters, through Thames Valley Toastmasters Club, in London, Ontario CANADA. Toastmasters is an “International, Educational Non-Profit Organization,” whose mission is Communication Excellence and which strive to make effective oral communication a worldwide reality. That membership started a whole new dimension and series of events and direction to his life – learning, honing and utilizing his communication, leadership and interpersonal relation skills, to heights that he would not have ventured into or achieved otherwise.
He worked for Bell Canada, in various Engineering and Management positions and levels for 24 years, and then in 1996 he embarked on other career adventures, specifically “Inspirational Speaking” and “Training.”
In 1996 he started his own Speaking and Training business, “Adventures in . . .” SEMINARS & SPEECHES, offering inspirational messages (speaking) to the public and human resources (personnel) development training to individuals and organizations’ staff.
In 2000 he entered the world of politics at the Municipal level, with his election to London Ontario’s City Council, representing Ward 6 of that City. He was re-elected in 2003 to Ward 6 and again in 2006 to the newly formed Ward 12 (half of the previous Ward 6). In 2006 he obtained more votes than all his four opponents combined (52%).
Harold cares about offering a good quality of life for the residents of London, and advocates: lifelong learning, safety, healthy living, sustainable social and economic development and environment, human rights, fairness and equity issues, diversity in the work place and among the workforce, opportunities for the disenfranchised, housing for the homeless and support for the financially less fortunate, particularly youths, seniors, jobless, disabled, immigrants and foreign trained professionals, whose trainings are not recognized.
Harold is a role model and mentor to many and encourages others to be the same. He touches people’s lives in a positive way. As someone once said, “you cannot be around Harold Usher for too long before something good begins to happen to you.” He is MAGIC!
Affiliation/Membership:
Past:
- City of London Planning Committee (PC) 2004-5
- City of London Environmental and Transportation Committee (ETC) Chair 2005-7
- City of London Long-Term Transit Development Committee 2007-8
- London Diversity and Race Relations Advisory Committee (LDRRAC) Chair 1998-2000
- London Public Library Board of Trustees 1991 – 1994
- Toastmasters International Board of Directors 1992 - 1994
- Fanshawe College Board of Governors 1994 – 2000
- London Multi-Cultural Youth Association Board of Directors
- London and District Distress Centre Board of Directors
- Bell Canada’s Employment Equity Committee
- London Talbot Toastmasters Club – Originator 1987 - 2006
- Canada Pageant Corporation Advisory Committee
- London Chamber of Commerce (via Bell Canada) 1984-96
- The Journeys of the Black People of the United Church of Canada, Planning Committee
- UWO First Year Telecommunication Course (Part of Bell Tutorial Team) 1992-4
- City of London Creative City Committee (2007)
Current:
- London City Council (London, Ontario, CANADA)
- City of London Community and Protective Services Committee (CPSC) Chair
- City of London Council’s Housing Leadership Committee
- Licensing Appeal Committee
- FCM Committee for Increasing Women’s Participation in Municipal Government.
- FCM Committee on Social Development
- FCM Committee on the Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development.
- London Transit Commission (Past Chair)
- Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System Joint Board of Management (Past Chair)
- Western Fair Association – Fair Director
- Elgin Middlesex Oxford Local Training Board
- Goodwill Industries Ontario Great Lakes, Board of Directors
- Ontario Society of Professional Engineers - Member
- Professional Engineers Ontario – Member
- Black Community Leadership Congress (BCLC) – London Branch
- London Black History Coordinating Committee – Coordinator Closing GALA
- AFROFESTA - Chair General and Implementation Committees - March to July 2008
- White Oaks United Church of London - Building Finance Committee (Co-Chair)
- The Journeys of the Black People of the United Church of Canada
- Garrison Community Council of London
- Telephone Pioneers of Canada/America
- Thames Valley Toastmasters Club (Past President)
- London City Hall Toastmasters Club – Originator, Sponsor and President
- Fanshawe College President’s Academy
Other (Own Businesses):
Founder and president of “Adventures in…” SEMINARS & SPEECHES, a company offering Inspirational Messages (Speaking) and Human Resources Development training, to individuals and organizations for inspiration, learning, leading and performing in the workplace.
Founder and President “Impact Resumes,” a company offering resources to create or re-develop your resume into one that is more attractive, appealing, and inviting to the eyes, to want to read and more precise and inviting to the mind, to want to read, in order to WIN an interview with a potential employer for a position of employment.
Honours: Toastmaster of the Year – District 60 Toastmasters, 1988
Club President of the Year – District 60 Toastmasters, 1988
President Citation - Consortium for Belizean Development –1988
District Governor Service – Toastmasters International, 1991
Select Distinguished District, Toastmaster International 1991
Excellence in Teamwork, Bell Canada 1992
Canada 125th Commemorative Medal from the Governor General, 1992
International Director Service – Thames Valley Toastmasters, 1994
George Keenan Award – District 60 Toastmasters, 1996
Presidential Citation - Toastmasters International, 2000
Leadership Excellence – Toastmasters International, 2006
Advanced Leader Gold - Toastmasters International, 2006
Distinguished Toastmaster – Toastmasters International, 1989, 1996, 2007
Joint PEO and OSPE Citizenship Award, 2008
Works: Assisted in the detailed design of facilities for several Major Montreal Hospital
and Research Laboratories, most notably “The Lady Davis Institute of Medical
Research” at the Jewish General Hospital.1968-9
Supervised the sites selection and development and installation of microwave Towers and associated telecommunications buildings at several sites above the 51st parallel, in Ontario, to deliver initial reliable telecommunication service into 24 remote First Nations Communities 1976-7
Planned the extension of Bell Canada trunk facilities across Ontario, to
accommodate various new Telecommunications providers at the dawn of long
distance competition. I was one of the very few employees within Bell Canada
who were allowed to know the forecast of the potential competitors’ (the
enemies) trunk requirements. 1992-4.
Initiated and developed Training material and presented human resources
development Seminars for the following:
Communicating with Impact
Develop Your Own Personal Mission Statement
Street Smart Networking Skills
Team Building Skills
Authored and Published Book, entitled:
PROSTATE! PROSTATE! PROSTATE! A Problem of Men (Trafford 2008)
Education: B. Eng., (Civil), Sir George Williams (Concordia) University, Montreal, 1972
Mission: To inspire and empower individuals to better their personal disposition.
Values: Integrity, reliability, honesty, positive mental attitude, caring for others.
Main Goal: To meet a million people and touch a hundred thousand lives.
Mottos: People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care;
Lots of people believe in you, make sure you are one of them;
Faith in God gives meaning and purpose to Human Life;
Service to Humanity is the best work of life.
Service is the rent we pay for being on this earth.
In matters of style I swim with the current, in matter of principle I stand like a
rock.
In God I trust.
Citizenship: Canadian – Naturalized
Belizean by birth
Languages: English – written and spoken fluently
Contact: 519-686-7502
husher@rogers.com
Amazing Things about Harold Usher:
- Role Model to many
- Married to Melba (best decision)
- Choosing Canada as HOME (second best decision)
- Natalie, Stephanie and Melanie
- Graduate as an Engineer (6 years evenings plus 3 years full time – determination)
- Acted in Many Stage Plays, most notably as the leading role of “Charles Condomine,” in the Play “Blithe Spirits.” 1962, Montego Bay, Jamaica (See Pictures)
- Staying young looking, progressive, inspirational and happy – sensational
- Authoring “PROSTATE! PROSTATE! PROSTATE! A Problem of Men”
