Ted Opitz
Encyclopedia
Ted Opitz, CD
(born 1961) is a Canadian
politician, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
in the 2011 election. He represents the electoral district of Etobicoke Centre as a member of the Conservative Party
.
He won by a margin of just 26 votes over Liberal
incumbent Borys Wrzesnewskyj
in the initial count, triggering an automatic judicial recount. The recount ultimately confirmed his victory.
In 1978, while still in high school and only a teenager, Ted enrolled as a private in the Canadian Army Reserves and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel during 33 years of service. In 1998 and early 1999, his career brought him overseas to Bosnia as a member of NATO’s Stabilization Force (SFOR), where he served to bring peace, stability and security to the region. During his rich military career, Ted undertook various roles ranging from Assistant to the Chief of Staff at Canadian Forces College, a course instructor and military planner for Pope John Paul II and his World Youth Day visit to Canada in 2002. Prior to running and being elected to Parliament, Ted was the Commanding Officer of The Lincoln and Welland Regiment. Ted is grateful to the Canadian military for teaching him the values of leadership, responsibility, humility, duty and service to Canada.
During his military service, Ted also had parallel careers in the telecom industry as well as completing a BA in English at York University. Starting as a technician, Ted worked his way up to sales and marketing and managerial roles in product management and high speed internet development. For the past two years, Ted was the Senior Regional Advisor to the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. In that role, he represented the Government of Canada and the Minister in the Greater Toronto Area and Southern Ontario.[1]
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
(born 1961) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 2011 election. He represents the electoral district of Etobicoke Centre as a member of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
He won by a margin of just 26 votes over Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
incumbent Borys Wrzesnewskyj
Borys Wrzesnewskyj
Borys Wrzesnewskyj is a Canadian politician who represented the riding of Etobicoke Centre in the Canadian House of Commons in the 38th, 39th and 40th Parliaments. He is a member of the Liberal Party.-Background:...
in the initial count, triggering an automatic judicial recount. The recount ultimately confirmed his victory.
Background
Ted Opitz was born in the Parkdale area of Toronto in 1961 and is the youngest of four children. Ted’s parents were originally from Poland and immigrated to Canada shortly after WW2. During the war, Ted’s mother suffered in Nazi Germany as a forced labourer and his father served in the Polish 2nd Corps after being released by the Soviets as a prisoner of war in a gulag. Like all immigrant families, Ted’s parents came to Canada to start a better life.In 1978, while still in high school and only a teenager, Ted enrolled as a private in the Canadian Army Reserves and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel during 33 years of service. In 1998 and early 1999, his career brought him overseas to Bosnia as a member of NATO’s Stabilization Force (SFOR), where he served to bring peace, stability and security to the region. During his rich military career, Ted undertook various roles ranging from Assistant to the Chief of Staff at Canadian Forces College, a course instructor and military planner for Pope John Paul II and his World Youth Day visit to Canada in 2002. Prior to running and being elected to Parliament, Ted was the Commanding Officer of The Lincoln and Welland Regiment. Ted is grateful to the Canadian military for teaching him the values of leadership, responsibility, humility, duty and service to Canada.
During his military service, Ted also had parallel careers in the telecom industry as well as completing a BA in English at York University. Starting as a technician, Ted worked his way up to sales and marketing and managerial roles in product management and high speed internet development. For the past two years, Ted was the Senior Regional Advisor to the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. In that role, he represented the Government of Canada and the Minister in the Greater Toronto Area and Southern Ontario.[1]