Steve Kent was born in Stephenville, NL, on May 7, 1978, and lived in Elizabeth Park in Paradise, NL, before moving with his parents to Mount Pearl in 1980. He currently resides in Mount Pearl with his wife, Janet. In October 2007, Steve was elected to Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial Legislature as the Member of the House of Assembly for the District of Mount Pearl North.
In 1996, he graduated with honours from O'Donel High School where he served as Student Council President. In 2001, Steve completed a degree in Business Administration (B.B.A.) and certificate in Public Administration at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is also enrolled in the Diploma in Adult Education Program at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. In May 2003, Steve completed a Masters degree in Management through the McGill-McConnell Program at McGill University.
Community Involvement
Community involvement has been an important part of Steve's life for many years. Steve served as Vice-Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador 2000 Summer Games. In the past, he has served as the founding Chairperson of the youth-driven Mount Pearl Anti-Vandalism Campaign, President of Mount Pearl's Youth Advisory Council, Founder and Chairperson of Mount Pearl's Youth Crime Prevention Committee, Founder and Leader with the 1st Royal Newfoundland Constabulary - Mount Pearl Scouting Group, and a volunteer with numerous other organizations and activities. In 1995 and 1996, Steve shared his views on issues of concern to young people in his weekly column in The Telegram. On a national and international level, Steve has volunteered with Scouts Canada, serving as Assistant Provincial Commissioner, founding Chair of the National Youth Committee, and member of the National Volunteer Services Committee. Presently, he is a member of the National Board of Governors for Scouts Canada. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Waterford Valley.
Local Government Involvement
In September 1997, after an intense election campaign, Steve became the youngest elected public official in the City's history. Receiving a record number of votes, Steve was elected Deputy Mayor of Mount Pearl. He has chaired the Parks and Recreation Committee, Human Resources and Finance Committee, and Planning and Land Use Committee of Council. In addition, Steve has served on the City's Economic Development Committee, Technical Services Committee and the Regional Fire Services Committee. Steve has also co-chaired Mount Pearl's Drug Strategy. In October 2003, Steve became Mount Pearl’s eighth Mayor, and he was elected by acclamation in September 2005. Steve resigned as Mayor on October 30, 2007.
During his involvement in local government, Steve served as Avalon Director on the Board of Directors of the Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador. He was also an active member of the Atlantic Mayors Congress.
Professional Achievements
In addition to political and academic pursuits, Steve has been busy in other areas in recent years. In 1998, Steve toured Newfoundland and Labrador to deliver motivational presentations to high school students. From April 1999 to September 2004, Steve served as Chief Executive Officer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland. The Eastern Newfoundland agency experienced over 1,000% growth under Steve’s leadership – the agency served more kids than ever before. Steve also served as President of the organization’s Atlantic Staff Association. In 2003, Steve was appointed to the national Organizational Development Committee.
In September 2004, Steve joined Stirling Communications International as the Manager of Corporate Development. In August 2005 he also took on the role of Station Manager (Acting) of OZ FM, the province’s top FM radio network.
In January 2006, Steve left the media business to launch his own consulting practice, The FOCUS Group. His firm provides management and marketing consulting services to a number of private and voluntary sector organizations. He also served as General Manager of AME Supply, a marine and industrial supply company that did extensive work in the fishery and the oil and gas industry.
In January 2008, Steve and his partner, Janet, opened FOCUS Driver Training Inc., which now operates four Young Drivers of Canada centres in Newfoundland.
Awards
Steve's community service and academic achievements are varied and wide ranging. From 1992 to 1996, he was selected as Mount Pearl's Youth of the Year, and was also named Youth Volunteer of the Year on two occasions. Steve has received the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, as well as the Chief Scout’s and Queen’s Venturer Awards. He was recognized on national television in 1996 after being selected as the recipient of the YTV Achievement Award for Public Service. In December 1999, Maclean's magazine recognized Steve as one of the top 100 Canadians to watch for in the next century. Steve was nominated by the Mount Pearl Chamber of Commerce for the 1999 Adult Volunteer Working with Youth Award, and in 2000, he received the Chamber of Commerce Best in Business Government Award. In 2002, he was a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal. In 2003, the Memorial University Alumni Association presented Steve with the Alumni Horizon Award.
Focus on Social Development
Contributing to Newfoundland and Labrador's social development remains a priority for Steve. In 2002, he was appointed the Minister's Advisory Committee to review the province's new Child, Youth and Family Services Act, and he served on the committee for a three-year term. From January 2003 to October 2004, Steve served on the Premier's Council on Social Development.
Steve strives to maintain a healthy balance between professional, community and social involvements. He looks forward to continuing to play a leadership role in his community, province and country for years to come.
SCOUTING BACKGROUND
The following is an overview of Steve Kent’s Scouting background. Steve has been involved in the movement since 1986.
Local Involvement
Steve became a Wolf Cub in 1986, joining the 1st Mary Queen of the World / St. Peter’s Cub Pack ‘C’. In 1989, he joined the 1st Mary Queen of the World / St. Peter’s Scout Troop ‘B’. He served as a Sixer and a Patrol Leader, and led his Troop’s Court of Honour. He was named Cub of the Year in 1988 and 1989. Steve was a Venturer with the 1st Mary Queen of the World / St. Peter’s Venturer Company from 1992 to 1995. In 1995, he founded the 1st Royal Newfoundland Constabulary – Mount Pearl Venturer Company. From 1996 to 2000, he was a member of the 1st Royal Newfoundland Constabulary – Mount Pearl Rover Crew. He served as President of both of his Venturer Companies and of his Rover Crew.
Youth Leadership
Steve served as Kim for his former Cub Pack. He later served as a Scouter-in-Training and a Junior Leader for Cubs and Scouts. He chaired the Northeast Avalon Region’s Venturer Council and was a member of the Provincial Rover Roundtable. As a youth member, Steve was active in organizing a number of district and regional events, such as Cub Jeopardy, Patrol Leader/Assistant Patrol Leader Workshops, and Scout Pioneer and Challenge Camps.
Jamborees
Steve has volunteered at several Cuborees in Newfoundland and Labrador Council. He has also participated in several provincial Jamborees in the province. He attended CJ’93 and CJ’97.
Other Leadership Roles
Steve served as an Advisor to the 1st RNC – Mount Pearl Venturer Company for a couple of years. He also served as Section Leader with the 1st RNC – Mount Pearl Cub Pack for a couple of years. In the late 90s, he also started the 1st RNC – Mount Pearl Scout Troop, and served as Section Leader.
Steve was appointed Assistant Provincial Commissioner for Rovers by Council Commissioner Pat Hayward, and was a member of the Provincial Service Team for over two years.
In the 2007-2008 Scouting year, Steve served as Akela with the 1st MQW / St. Peter’s Cub Pack and Rusty with the 1st MQW / St. Peter’s Beaver Colony. He continues to provide support to both sections (and the Group is now known as 1st Mount Pearl).
National Involvement
Steve’s national involvement in Scouts Canada began in November 1993 when he participated in Scouts Canada’s first National Youth Forum. He attended a few subsequent meetings of the Forum, and played a key role in recommending to the National Council that a National Youth Committee be established. In 1995, at the age of 16, Steve became the first Chair of Scouts Canada’s National Youth Committee, and the youngest voting member of the National Council in the organization’s history.
For three years, Steve chaired the National Youth Committee and actively promoted meaningful involvement of youth in decision-making at all levels of the organization. Steve was a member of the design team that developed the FOCUS youth leadership training program, and was one of the organizers of FOCUS’97, the first national youth leadership training conference.
In the late 90s, for Steve was a member of the Structure Review Task Group led by the late Larry Fox. Steve was a member of the Program Committee for CJ’01, serving as Manager of Special Events. Due to changes in work and university commitments at the time, he had to resign from this role, but his team successful carried out its work. Steve was a member of the National Volunteer Services Committee from 2000 to 2002.
Steve was elected to Scouts Canada’s Board of Governors in November 2005, and served his first three-year term on the Board. He was a member of the Board’s Strategic Planning Committee.
Steve was appointed Chief Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Governors by Her Excellency, the Governor General, in November 2008.
International Experience
In addition to national leadership roles, Steve has also been involved in World Scouting. He was part of the Canadian delegation to the World Youth Forum and World Scout Conference in Norway in 1996. He played a leadership role at the forum, working with youth from around the world.
In 1998, he participated in the Interamerican Youth Forum and Scout Conference in Mexico. He was elected as a co-chair of the youth forum, and led meetings that were primarily conducted in Spanish, with the assistance of translators. Later that year, Steve took part in follow-up planning sessions at the offices of the Interamerican Region in Santiago, Chile. Other countries in the region and around the world recognized Canada’s leadership in the area of youth involvement in decision-making.
Scouting Awards
Steve has received the following Scouting awards:
Chief Scout’s Award (1992) Queen’s Venturer Award (1993)
Scouts Canada Trust Scholarship (1996) Centennial Medal (2007)
Training
Steve has completed Wood Badge Part I and II training courses. He participated in the National Training Event (Leadership Skills) in Nova Scotia in 1998. Steve recently facilitated a session for new trainers at a course in St. John’s, NL.
Supporting Scouting
Steve continues to promote Scouting in his community and across the country. He also contributes financially to the organization – he supports the Scouts Canada Foundation, and also attended the Centennial Gala in Gatineau, QC, in February 2007.