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Calgary Muslim Mayor “Naheed Nenshi” named the Best Mayor in the world. He has been awarded the 2014 World Mayor Prize after a competition with another 29 mayors from around the world.
According to the World Mayor Contest website Nenshi is “the most admired mayor of any large Canadian city” . the website also said that ” His vision how a city should plan for its future has attracted the attention of urban thinkers from across North America. Since taking office in 2010, he has become the most admired mayor of any large Canadian city. He is an urban visionary who doesn’t neglect the nitty-gritty of local government” .
They also described him as “a role model” for decisive management, inclusivity and forward planning. The website also acknowledges Nenshi’s leadership during e 2013 Floods in Alberta and his impressive ability to rally voters in his mayoral campaigns.
Naheed Nenshi was born in Toronto, and raised in Calgary. His parents were South-Asian-origin immigrants to Canada from Tanzania. He was educated at the University of Calgary, receiving a Bachelor of Commerce in 1993, and completed a Master of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1998. In 2010 he become the first Muslim mayor of a major North American city after his ‘Purple Revolution’ captured the imagination of voters from right across the political spectrum.
This is not the first award he had for his achievements; he won in 2011 the Young Leader award by the World Economic Forum for his innovative ideas of urban planning. He also awarded in 2012 the President’s Award of the Canadian Institute of Planners for implementing progressive ideas such as transparency. He also was ranked the second most important person in Canada by Maclean’s magazine 50 top Canadians list for 2013. By winning the ‘World Mayor’ prize in 2014 by the city mayor’s foundation He becomes the first Canadian mayor who win this award.
The World Mayor Prize, first handed out in 2004 and its awarded every two years by the City Mayors Foundation which aims to” promote, encourage and facilitate good local government,”. Last winner was to Iñaki Azkuna Mayor of Bilbao,Spain, in 2012. This year Daniël Termont, Mayor of Ghent in Belgium, was awarded first runner-up and winner or the World Mayor Commendation for Services prize. Second runner-up and winner of the World Mayor Commendation for Services to Surabaya, Indonesia, Mayor Tri Rismaharini.
Mayor Nenshi will be presented with the World Mayor Prize trophy later in the year.
