Nigerian-born Frank Onasanya made history when he was elected as North Grenville’s first black councillor on 27 October, 2014. Black Ottawa Scene congratulates Frank for his unique achievement and hopes his victory will motivate other Canadians of African descent to consider running for political office at different levels of government.
Editor
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I was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, western Nigeria. My parents are natives of Oke-Eri in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, near Lagos. I started playing soccer (football) when I was five years old and the sport consumed much of my life for many years. I played the sport throughout my adolescent years including secondary and post-secondary period. I had soccer training at the National Training Centre with the hope of playing with the Nigeria’s national soccer team.
After my primary education, I attended Ife City College and later transferred to Lagos Secondary Commercial Academy where I completed my secondary school in 1976. I pursued my post-secondary education at the University of Lagos but financial difficulties forced me to withdraw from university. Shortly after leaving my studies, I took up a job with the Federal Ministry of Health in Lagos as a medical Records Officer. I worked there for several years and saved enough money to pursue a new life in England U.K. in 1983 at the age of 24.
I left Nigeria for England with just a pound in my pocket. While in England, I got married and had two beautiful children with my first wife. My daughter, a Lawyer by profession, graduated from Hertfordshire University and she’s currently a Councillor in Cambridgeshire England. My son is a Real Estate professional, also lives in England.
In my early years in England, I worked three part-time jobs and a full-time job to save money for my education, which I then pursued while playing semi-professional football (soccer) in Cambridge.
When I started my full-time studies, I cut back to two part-time jobs. I studied Advance Accounting at Corpus Christi in Cambridge and followed it up with a Certificate in Accounting as an Account Technician with the Association of Accounting Technicians in England. I later received a Diploma as a Guild of Computer Practitioners student/member from Compu/teach College.
Thirteen years later, I moved to Toronto, because I wanted to start a new life in Canada. When I arrived in Canada, I gained employment with the Hospitality Industry as a Unit Manager and later became a District Manager of a chain of restaurants. After a few years I began coaching Amateur and Minor League soccer, and it was during this time that I met the love of my life, my wife Rhonda, and married her.
Currently my wife and I are blessed with two wonderful and precious children both of which are in elementary school. My family means the world to me. They keep me young at heart and I feel blessed.
In 2000, I moved to Kemptville and continued to coach soccer, joined the Kemptville District Soccer Club as the Club Head Coach and Technical Director, the position I held for 7 years, Ultimately I started my own Soccer Training Academy in Kemptville called Frank’s Soccer Training Academy. I possess a Provincial “B” License, held a Club Staff Coach position with Ottawa International Soccer Club for 3 years, an Ontario Soccer Association Learning facilitator for 2 Years and currently the Head Coach for Department of National Defense Women’s National Soccer Team.
I left the private industry in 2004 and joined the Department of National Defence as HR and Civ/Mil Training Coord Manager till present. In my current job, I am the Organization’s HR Advisor and I have also studied and earned Diploma in Business management, a universities Certificate in Project Management and in BSc Undergraduate studies with Capella University in Human Resource Management.
Leading up to the municipal election, I spent many years coaching soccer players of all ages and I’d been a volunteer in my children’s schools and in our local Kinsmen Club, as well as a volunteer at the Kemptville Youth Centre. I have attended meetings of Municipal Council, and many community meetings. My wife and I have raised our family here. We’ve shopped, gone to church, enjoyed recreation and made many friends in North Grenville. I’ve listened to a lot of people to learn what works for them and what doesn’t.
I know the community very well and I really care about its future – for my family, our friends and neighbours. I want to help make a real difference in my community – and that is why I chose to run as a candidate for North Grenville Municipal Council.
When I decided to be candidate, I started preparing well ahead of the election – attending council meetings as an observer and learning the issues. I enlisted a volunteer campaign team once the election approached and we worked hard to get my message out into the community, where I personally visited hundreds of homes throughout our township.
As a visible minority, I have experienced racism throughout my life, but have always dealt with the issues surrounding it directly. I have also tried to help others who are members of minority groups meet this challenge. As part of my social responsibilities, I am a member of the National Capital Region Visible Minority Group where I work, at the Department of National Defense and participate in many of the group’s activities. I am a member of Isokan Yoruba of Ottawa Canada (Nigerian Cultural Group) and a part-time supply teacher for the Yoruba Language School for Isokan Yoruba.
I am honoured that the voters have put their confidence in me and elected me as their councillor and I will do my best to serve the community. I will be sworn in to office on December 1. As a member of the new- Canadians, I hope that my election success would encourage more new-Canadians to seek political offices.