Norm Gardner was born February 13, 1938 in Toronto.  He grew up in the city’s downtown core, attending public school and eventually Toronto Central Commerce high school.  After school Norm worked at the Toronto Star, while on the side he was a member of the Queen’s Own Rifle reserve.  Later Norm went into the pharmaceutical business, maintaining at the same time a working role in the family bakery business.  Eventually Norm went on to a career in politics:  he has served in various positions in the North York, Metro Toronto, and City of Toronto governments,including as the chair of the Toronto Police Services Board from 1998-2002. In January of 2016, he sat down with his granddaughter, Crestwood student Georgia Gardner, to share his experiences growing up in Toronto, his unique perspective as a politician during an important time in Toronto’s history, and how that perspective has shaped his views of current events- both in the city, and internationally. In May 2022 he returned to Crestwood to share his experiences with Politics students.