“…a rarity as a politician. A person of utmost integrity who deeply cared for the people he served.” Anne Renaud
It was 1989. The Westmount Public Library, the jewel of Westmount, a magnificent example of Romanesque architecture built in 1899,
was falling apart.
And a certain group of citizens – represented by a certain group in Westmount City Council – couldn’t care less. “We’re not spending a cent to bring it back to its former glory!”
Decaying death by a thousand bricks.
There was no way the “what, me worry?” group could foresee that an unknown woman to politics was to take the first step to strip them of their power of obstruction:
May Cutler. Well known, highly respected author, publisher, and resident of Westmount. No one was feistier than May Cutler. Tough as nails who wouldn’t tolerate stupidity in any one.
“If those guys won’t do it, I will!” So without any experience in running a government, or anything public,
she had run for Mayor in 1987. And to the surprise of everyone – even those who voted for her – WON.
Once in, and with an in-depth report on the Library as ammunition, she assessed the fiercely entrenched opposition…and called for help! The one person in Westmount who could turn the situation around:
Peter Trent
But why Peter Trent? In fact, “Who” was Peter Trent? Who is the man who over decades was to be elected Mayor 5 times…by acclamation!
The people of Westmount had got the measure of the man his first time round as Councillor from 1983 to 1987. Peter was a man driven by his passion for Westmount and the protection of its unique architectural heritage. Never once muddied by a desire to bask in personal glory. City government had never seen the likes of a Peter Trent.
“I always felt I needed to stand up a bit straighter when I was in his presence,” said Anne Renaud, his administrative assistant for 8 years through his two latter stints as Mayor of Westmount.
“A rarity as a politician -- a person of utmost integrity who deeply cared for the people he served. Always ready to listen to an opposing opinion and always fully present and 100% prepared for each meeting.”
Trent had inherited his passion from his mother, who had embraced socialism with the same religious fervour with which she had once embraced Christianity. She was dedicated to the well being of the ordinary citizen. This was England, where Peter Trent was born and raised, where socialism was not a dirty word.
“I inherited the fervour, not the socialism!”
There was no doubt in May Cutler’s mind that Peter Trent was her man. So it was no surprise when one day May called Peter in 1989, and, in her no-nonsense voice, gave him his marching orders.
“This place is a mess. Only one person can save this Library. I want you to return as Councillor. And then run for mayor to replace me in 1991. Westmount needs you!”
After being at loggerheads with May Cutler – they disliked each other at first – they eventually developed a warm friendship and a deep respect for each other.
Looking back, one can appreciate how smart May Cutler was. She had assessed the Library impasse. She needed a star to break the impasse. And In Peter Trent she had a star.
But May had a challenge. She knew that Peter Trent had been a phenomenon in business - creating a multi-million company at the age of 25 based on a chemical formula he had invented, and based on international patents and the multi-million dollar investments by international companies.
But how do you get the people of Westmount –especially the holdouts - to become aware that Peter Trent was the financial wizard they needed?
May Cutler gave Peter Trent the tools to become a star high up in the Westmount firmament.
In addition to the mandate to “get the Library project moving,” she gave him the portfolio of Finance Commissioner.
May Cutler was right on the money. Combining his passion for Westmount heritage with his financial acumen, Trent ran with the “financial” ball. He went on to make municipal affairs history. He drove through a “no debt” fiscal policy of operating municipal affairs.
Imagine! Running a city debt-free!!!!!!!!!!!! (well, almost debt free in the beginning, and later on mission impossible achieved!) “I called it ‘pay-as-you-go' policy!"
Comments Trent, "Some Council-members, City managers, and taxpayers were against this policy. They asked ‘why should we pay today for buildings and infrastructure that only future taxpayers will enjoy?’ I responded that borrowing costs will drop – eventually to zero – and therefore help offset cash payments for capital projects."
But it was Trent's understanding of what argument would touch the very core of the Westmount holdouts
that broke the impasse. "Today’s taxpayers are living off the legacy of past Westmount investments such as the Library, the Greenhouse, Victoria Hall and large public parks. It’s our turn to invest. A newer, fast-growing City can possibly justify borrowing; for a mature City like Westmount, it’s just not right to pass on a huge mortgage to our children and grandchildren.”
The opposition to financing the restoration of the Library was over!
Peter had used his invincible weapon to bring most of the people into his camp.
Listening. Peter listens. With his whole being. Whether to the person who shares his beliefs. Or to the person who is a staunch opponent. (“as long as they are in possession of a working collection of scruples” says Peter with a twinkle in his eye) And he never strong-arms them into agreement…..except for “constructive firing” as a last resort!
There was one other difficulty left to overcome: the Library's new addition.
Peter Trent commissioned Architect Peter Rose to build a glorious glass walled extension to the Library.
It was just this kind of marriage with the old majestic building that was needed in the overall plan to bring the Westmount Public Library into the 21st century. "Not all saw it that way, resulting in 6 years of interminable discussions with a few Council-members, many professional librarians living in Westmount, and, of course, citizens at large."
Finally, a great sigh of relief! The Library project, old and new, was complete.
(Shades of Lyndon B, Johnson as described by Doris Kearns Goodwin in her recently published book, Leadership in Turbulent Times. "A successful consensus was the consequence of effective persuasion.")
There was one other memorable mark that Peter Trent left.
Not only on Westmount, but on all cities across Quebec.
A natural outcome from his principle of containing municipal spending.
"Cities must aim to operate without debt."
But then how can they fund new projects?
"Simple, my dear Watson, 'The Peter Principle!'
Reduce the tax burden of such projects by Community fundraising!!!!!!!!!!!!!
An almost unheard-of concept then in municipal governance.Trent had turned into a financial pioneer. (Nearly 20 years later, he used the same idea to help pay for the Westmount Recreation Centre to which citizens donated over $6 million.)
For Trent, the most important reason for fundraising is that it created a bond within the community.
A bursting of pride. Everyone in Westmount “owned” the project they had funded!
Big or small contributions.
$Millions from corporate giants. $5.00 contributions from little boys playing hockey on the street. There were block fundraising events.
Everyone in Westmount had become part of the restoration of Westmount’s Jewel.
Everyone had been involved in the marriage of the old with the new of the Westmount Public Library.
The divisions had been dropped!
“It took a village to renovate a library and bring it into the 21st century
And it took a Peter Trent to galvanize the village!”
Postscript ____________________________
Peter Trent needed the heady achievement of the Westmount Public Library to carry him through the two barren years of fighting for demerger starting in January 2002. A solitary figure alone in the desert, fighting the mass of forces and politicians who had imposed the merger of all suburbs. With no consultation with the population.
It was a terrible time. A dark time.
Supported only by his loving wife and his unshakeable belief that the forced merger was destructive to people’s rights as residents.
After nearly a one and a half years, and after Trent, through the Poitras Report, managed to get the Liberals to promise demergers in the middle of the 2003 election campaign, the tide turned. He was joined by other fighters, and Trent led the victorious fight to demerge Westmount – and 14 other Cities on Montreal Island alone.
Today, Peter Trent is 72. He has another 30 years to go (Not an exaggeration. Men and women are skydiving at the age of 102. And becoming a champion stationery bike rider at the age of 105 years with the physique of a man of 50!)
Next venture? To go back in time to examine unresolved issues. Perhaps through writing a fiction book. “ Let’s face it, all fiction is basically autobiographical”
In the meantime he’s having fun being a troubadour.
Maybe going back in time and doing a touch of acting
and through all those years, the one constant:
his deep love for his wife, Kathryn Stephenson, who has always had his back.
