Longtime community activist Kramer recognized as city builder
KITCHENER — Longtime community activist Theron Kramer was recognized for his decades of work as a city builder in an emotional presentation at city council Monday.
Kramer’s wife Joy and daughter Melanie both choked up as they expressed their appreciation for the Mayor’s City Builder award, which recognizes Kitchener residents “who have demonstrated a commitment to making our city and community a better place today and in the future.”
Kramer, who celebrated his 75th birthday on Sunday, has terminal cancer and was too weak to attend the presentation, though many of his friends and supporters filled the council chambers. City builder awards are normally presented at the Mayor’s New Year’s Levee.
Mayor Berry Vrbanovic praised Kramer as a “champion of citizen engagement as a cornerstone of democracy,” who has worked tirelessly to make the community more equitable.
Kramer served as chair of Compass Kitchener, the citizens’ committee that regularly surveys the community to ensure city priorities align with those of its citizens. He was also a director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre “as it moved from a folk art council to a service agency,” as he put it.
He’s had a long career working with community groups, the Global Community Centre, chairing a group fighting the closure of Victoria School, was the founder of the K-W Race Relations Committee and a board member of Theatre & Company.
In an interview, Kramer said he was “surprised and pleased” about the award. “There’s a lot of people in this community that contribute a lot to it.” “It didn’t matter what I was doing, you have to count on others. People have to be committed and engaged for anything significant to happen.”
He said he’s perhaps most proud of fighting a “horrendous” development proposal at the Ontario Municipal Board with John Ryrie, which they believed would have cut their Central Frederick neighbourhood in half.
In remarks read out by his daughter Melanie, Kramer praised the city’s recently approved neighbourhood strategy and its focus “on the sustainability of all neighbourhoods, not just those with the greatest needs.”
He also reminded them that the not-for-profit sector is a key player in community building. “That sector also needs your ongoing attention and assistance to build a vibrant and economically successful community.”
He also pointed out that council supported a move in 2014 to allow permanent residents the right to vote in municipal elections.
But he said “it will take more than another letter from the clerk’s office” to win change. “It’ll take an individual or an entire council to champion this move.”
“Most of us talk frequently about doing the right thing, but because such actions can be unpopular and often provoke negative pushback, few of us are strong enough” to do so, said Coun. Frank Etherington.
“Not Theron. For decades he has somehow found the energy and the courage to be the principled and ongoing conscience of the community.”
Coun. Sarah Marsh, who served with Kramer on Compass Kitchener, said he was a mentor as well as a friend.