Selwyn, now a resident of Hanover and recently acclaimed newly-minted warden of Grey County, was born into poverty in Guyana and immigrated to Canada with five siblings and a single mother at the age of nine. He grew up "dirt poor" in a housing project in the troubled Jane-Finch area of Toronto. His mother provided for the family by working long hours as a "domestic". He never met his father.
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| Selwyn Hicks |
Against all odds and quite remarkably, he went on to become a successful lawyer while obtaining a masters degree. Here is a bit of his his academic, professional and political background:
Graduating from the University of Windsor with both a degree in Law and a Masters in Business Administration, Selwyn was called to the Ontario Bar in 2003. He began practicing law in Hanover with Stephen Barker in the fall of 2003. Prior to this, he worked in the legal department of the Children’s Aid Society in Windsor and at a boutique Toronto law firm specializing in international business law and intellectual property.
A partner at Hicks & Hicks, Selwyn practises primarily in the areas of real estate and wills/estate planning. In recent years, he has developed expertise defending clients who have been charged with Smoke Free Ontario Act violations. Helping to shape the law, Selwyn has a number of reported decisions, including at the Ontario Divisional Court and Ontario Court of Appeal.
At 55 years of age and a father of for, he is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario), as well as the Grey and Bruce County Law Associations. Serving as a member of numerous boards and committees over the years. Selwyn has also played an instrumental role in establishing a gymnastics club in the Town of Hanover.
A lover of politics, Selwyn was first elected to Hanover Council in 2006 and served two terms as Councilor. In 2014 he was elected as Deputy Mayor and was re-elected as Deputy Mayor again in 2018. In the role of Deputy Mayor, Selwyn sat on Grey County Council where he participated in decision-making at the upper tier level, with a particular interest in economic development, land use planning and social services. He even had an unsuccessful run at provincial politics in 2007, but don't count him out in future Ontario elections.
And that's not all, wife Barbara is also a lawyer and partner in their law firm.
In his new role as Warden of Grey County for 2019 he will provide leadership to County Council, represent the County at official functions and continue to serve on external boards and committees.
Foremost in his mind is a desire to foster the type of community where people of all backgrounds and income levels can succeed as he has. "I am hopeful that my example will send the message that in a great democracy you don't have to be privileged the reach high rank. I am proud to live in a community where rich or poor, black or white, we can live with hope, dare to dream and achieve our full potential," he said in his inaugural address.
He also spoke about his childhood and the people -- teachers, mentors, coaches and others -- who supported him and showed him "a path out of poverty."
Selwyn Hicks is the first warden from Hanover since 1994 and is also the first visible minority warden in Grey County's 164-year history.
Good for him...Good for Hanover and Grey County too!
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