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{{infobox person
{{Proposed deletion/dated
| name = Steve Mantis
|concern = Clearly does not meet the notability guideline as per [[WP:POLITICIAN]]
| image = Steve Mantis.jpg
|timestamp = 20110909012629
| alt =
| caption = Mantis interviewed after winning the NDP nomination in Thunder Bay-Superior North, June 30, 2011
| birth_name =
| birth_date = <!-- {{birth date|1950|MM|DD}} -->
| birth_place = [[Reading, Pennsylvania]]
| nationality =
| citizenship = [[Canadian]]
| known_for = Community Work/Disability rights activist
| education = [[Phillips Exeter Academy]]<br/>
[[Stanford University]]
| alma_mater =
| employer =
| occupation = Small businessperson, community organizer
| years_active = over 30 years
| title =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party = [[Ontario New Democratic Party]] (ONDP)
| opponents =
| boards = Ontario Workers' Compensation Board (1990-1994), Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers (2003-present), Lakehead Planning Board, Bay Credit Union Board (2002-2008), Community Support Services Council (1999-2003), Canadian Injured Workers' Alliance (1990-2001), Summer Solstice Festival Board (1982-1988), Lakehead Rural Planning Board (1980-1989)
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
| relations =
| callsign =
| awards = Judge George Ferguson Award, Credit Union Central of Ontario Social Responsibility Award
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website = www.stevemantis.ca
| footnotes =
}}
 
'''Stephen Arthur "Steve" Mantis''' (born January 18, 1950) is a Canadian advocate for injured workers and people with disabilities. Best known for years of volunteer efforts to build a "fair and comprehensive" system for [[Workers' compensation|workers injured on the job]],<ref>[http://www.chroniclejournal.com/content/news/local/2010/12/11/injured-workers-deserve-more-protesters-say "Injured workers deserve more, protesters say"], Chronicle-Journal</ref> Mantis organized injured worker self-help groups locally in Thunder Bay, then regionally in Northwestern Ontario by co-founding the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups<ref name="injuredworkersonline.org">[http://www.injuredworkersonline.org/Organizations/oniwg.html Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups]</ref> and nationally by co-founding the [[Canadian Injured Workers Alliance]].<ref name=CIWA>[http://www.ciwa.ca/content/history-ciwa History of CIWA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917104033/http://www.ciwa.ca/content/history-ciwa |date=2011-09-17 }}, Canadian Injured Workers Alliance</ref> Mantis was appointed to the Board of Directors of the [[Workplace Safety & Insurance Board|Ontario Workers Compensation Board]] from 1991 to 1994.<ref>[http://www.wsib.on.ca/en/community/WSIB#main Workplace Safety & Insurance Board]</ref>
{{ infobox person
| name = Steve Mantis
| image = Steve Mantis.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Steve Mantis interviewed by media after winning the NDP nomination in Thunder Bay-Superior North, June 30, 2011
| birth_name =
| birth_date = <!-- {{birth date|1950|MM|DD}} -->
| birth_place = [[Reading, Pennsylvania]]
| residence = [[Kaministiquia, Ontario]]
| nationality =
| ethnicity =
| citizenship = [[Canadian]]
| other_names =
| known_for = Community Work/Disability rights activist
| education = Standford University,
| alma_mater =
| employer =
| occupation = Small businessperson, community organizer
| years_active = over 30 years
| home_town =
| title =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party = [[Ontario New Democratic Party]] (ONDP)
| opponents =
| boards = Ontario Workers' Compensation Board (1990-1994), Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers (2003-present), Lakehead Planning Board, Bay Credit Union Board (2002-2008), Community Support Services Council (1999-2003), Canadian Injured Workers' Alliance (1990-2001), Summer Solstice Festival Board (1982-1988), Lakehead Rural Planning Board (1980-1989)
| religion =
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
| relations =
| callsign =
| awards = Judge George Ferguson Award, Credit Union Central of Ontario Social Responsibility Award
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website = www.stevemantis.ca
| footnotes =
| box_width = }}
 
'''Steve Mantis''' (born 1950) is a Canadian advocate for injured workers and people with disabilities. Best known for years of volunteer efforts to build a "fair and comprehensive" system for [[Workers' compensation|workers injured on the job]],<ref>"Injured workers deserve more, protesters say" Chronicle-Journal http://www.chroniclejournal.com/content/news/local/2010/12/11/injured-workers-deserve-more-protesters-say</ref> Mantis organized injured worker self-help groups locally in Thunder Bay, then regionally in Northwestern Ontario by co-founding the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups<ref>Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups http://www.injuredworkersonline.org/Organizations/oniwg.html</ref> and nationally by co-founding the [[Canadian Injured Workers Alliance]]<ref>History of CIWA – Canadian Injured Workers Alliance http://www.ciwa.ca/content/history-ciwa</ref>. Mantis was appointed to the Board of Directors of the [[Workplace Safety & Insurance Board|Ontario Workers Compensation Board]] from 1991 to 1994.<ref>Workplace Safety & Insurance Board http://www.wsib.on.ca/en/community/WSIB#main</ref>
 
Mantis was nominated as a candidate<ref>Steve Mantis wins, becomes NDP's candidate http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/152850/Mantis-wins,-becomes-NDP%27s-Thunder-Bay---Superior-North-candidate</ref> in the [[List of Ontario provincial electoral districts|provincial electoral district]] of [[Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district)|Thunder Bay-Superior North]] in the [[Ontario general election, 2011|2011 Ontario general election]]. He is a member of the [[Ontario New Democratic Party]].
 
 
Mantis was nominated as a candidate<ref>[http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/152850/Mantis-wins,-becomes-NDP%27s-Thunder-Bay---Superior-North-candidate Steve Mantis wins, becomes NDP's candidate]</ref> in the [[List of Ontario provincial electoral districts|provincial electoral district]] of [[Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district)|Thunder Bay-Superior North]] in the [[2011 Ontario general election]].<ref>[http://netnewsledger.com/2011/07/29/steve-mantis-as-you-know-im-running-to-be-your-next-mpp/ "As you know, I'm running to be your next MPP…"], netnewsledger.com</ref> He is a member of the [[Ontario New Democratic Party]].
 
==Background==
Mantis was born in 1950 in [[Reading, Pennsylvania]], the second of five children to James Hamilton Mantis and Georgina Mantis. He graduated from [[Phillips Exeter Academy]] in 1968.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Pean |publisher=[[Phillips Exeter Academy]] |year=1968}}</ref> After immigrating to Canada in 1972, Mantis has lived and worked near [[Thunder Bay]], [[Ontario]] ever since.
 
Steve Mantis was born in 1950 in [[Reading, Pennsylvania]], the second of five children to James Hamilton Mantis and Georgina Mantis. After immigrating to Canada in 1972, Steve Mantis and has lived and worked near [[Thunder Bay]], [[Ontario]] ever since.
 
=== Early Years ===
Though both Mantis' parents were born in the United States, both grandfathers emigrated from [[Greece]] in the late 1800s, leaving the same small village in the [[Peloponnese]]. Until age 12 Mantis grew up on a small farm in Lessport (near Reading).
 
In his mid-teens Mantis saw an ad on the back page of [[Field & Stream|Field & Stream magazine]] placed by a Toronto land company that had purchased tax lands near Thunder Bay: “Tax Sale – Buy Land in Canada for a $1 an acre!” In 1968, at age 18, Mantis paid $11 an acre to buy 82 acres in [[Kaministiquia]], Ontario.
 
In 1968 Steve Mantis commenced studies [[Stanford University]], California, majoring in history. The growth of the ‘Free Speech Movement’ with frequent teach-ins, music concerts with social justice themes and other new social phenomena of the era influenced the young Mantis, who shared a skepticism of the Vietnam War with other young students on campus. After two years, Mantis left Stanford to start a house painting company with a school friend, always with the intention of eventually building a home in Canada.<ref>http://www.stevemantis.ca/</ref>
 
=== Kaministiquia ===
During the university years, Mantis would be a frequent summer visitor to his Canadian property. Mantis started building a log cabin on the acreage in 1970. By spring 1972, Mantis had left California for good and moved permanently to Kaministiquia.
 
Over the years the property has grown from a single cabin to a farm that has raised a range of animals such as goats, sheep, pigs, turkeys, ducks, geese and bees. The Mantis farm always has chickens and a country garden that supplies most of the family vegetables. A cow was milked for the children. Of the farm, Mantis has said: “Our focus was to be conscientious citizens of the world. With the farm we knew we could produce safe food.”<ref>http://www.stevemantis.ca/</ref>
 
=== Family ===
Mantis married Barb Lysnes, his partner of 20 years, in a ceremony in [[Quetico Provincial Park]] in 2007. The blended family has five adult children: Sabina, Sage, Juan, Nikos, and Theo.
 
When an older brother died in 2009 of complications from [[AIDS]], Mantis said he "felt the lack of [[Universal health care|universal health coverage]] in the [[United States of America]] and the up-front health care costs for treatment had a major role in his brother’s late diagnosis and rapid disease progression."<ref>http://www.stevemantis.ca/</ref>
 
=== Work ===
In his professional life Mantis has worked as a [[Carpentry|carpenter]], founded and operated his own [[construction]] company, and managed vocational training for the Northwestern Ontario March of Dimes. SinceIn 2004,September 1978 Mantis haswas been the Community Co-leadinjured in thean Community-Universityindustrial Researchaccident, Alliancelosing onhis theleft Consequences of Work Injuryarm.<ref>Research Action Alliance on the Consequences of Work Injury [http://www.consequencesofworkinjuryinjuredworkersonline.caorg/partnersStories/smantissteve.htmhtml Injured Workers Online "Steve's Story"]</ref> withBefore [[McMaster University]]1996, aMantis largewas researchan projectemployment toservices studymanager in the lifeThunder changesBay amongRegional workersOffice afterof athe permanent[[Ontario injuryMarch onof theDimes]] jobduring witha thetime aimof thattransition futurefor workplacethe safetyorganization regulationinto andone compensationproviding legislationmodern willvocational matchtraining. employees’Since experiences.2004, Mantis creditedhas been the firstcommunity stepsco-lead of organizingin the projectCommunity-University wasResearch toAlliance "createon athe positiveConsequences workingof relationshipWork Injury with the Ontario [[WorkplaceMcMaster Safety & Insurance Board|Workplace Safety and Insurance BoardUniversity]]."<ref>[http://www.stevemantisconsequencesofworkinjury.ca/<partners/ref>smantis.htm AResearch finalAction reportAlliance ison tothe beConsequences submittedof inWork March 2012.Injury]</ref>
 
=== Community engagement ===
Before 1996, Mantis was an Employment Services Manager in the Thunder Bay Regional Office of the [[Ontario March of Dimes]] during a time of transition for the organization into one providing modern vocational training.
After serving on local area roads boards in the 1980s, Mantis went on to represent rural residents on the Lakehead Planning Board.
 
Mantis has spent 30 years in efforts to build a "comprehensive, fair system for all workers injured on the job."<ref>[http://www.cos-mag.com/Legal/Legal-Stories/WSIB-takes-steps-to-curb-stigma.html WSIB takes steps to curb Stigma]</ref> After organizing locally,<ref>[http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/99324/Injured-workers-program-gets-axed "Injured workers program gets axed"], TBNewsWatch</ref> Mantis organized regionally by forming self-help groups and undertaking ongoing government lobbying through a provincial group he co-founded - the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups.<ref name="injuredworkersonline.org"/> Mantis then used links built with organized labour and injured workers groups in other provinces to create the first National Injured Workers Conference in 1990,<ref name=CIWA/> which led him to co-found the [[Canadian Injured Workers Alliance]] (CIWA). Mantis was elected national coordinator of CIWA from 1996 to 2002.<ref>[http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2446934&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1&Language=E Evidence of the House Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities]</ref>
In September 1978 Mantis was injured in an industrial accident, losing his left arm.<ref>Injured Workers Online “Steve's Story” http://www.injuredworkersonline.org/Stories/steve.html</ref> The same year he started his own small construction company, named Evergreen Construction, undertaking construction projects from renovations to residential home construction. Of his [[Physical medicine and rehabilitation|rehabilitation]], Mantis said: "A key stage in my return to work as a carpenter was building my parents new house in Arizona in January 1979, five months after my injury. My rehabilitation therapist said it was the perfect situation to be able to try out my new [[Prosthesis|artificial arm]] without being in a competitive workplace."<ref>http://www.stevemantis.ca/</ref>
 
Mantis was appointed to the board of directors of the Workers Compensation Board (now called the [[Workplace Safety & Insurance Board|WSIB]]) from 1991 to 1994, and currently serves on the board of the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, a WSIB-funded network of clinics providing comprehensive occupational health services to injured workers across Ontario.<ref>[http://www.ohcow.on.ca/about_us/board_of_directors.html Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc., Board of Directors]</ref>
=== Community Engagement ===
After serving on local area roads boards in the 1980s, Mantis went on to represent rural residents on the Lakehead Planning Board.
 
More recently, Mantis has developed and taught a Speakers School for vulnerable adults, such as people living in poverty, single moms, [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] and [[Métis people (Canada)|Métis]] people, people with disabilities and the unemployed, in order teach skills the disadvantaged may use to have more control over their lives and address social inequities. He is founding chair of the board of directors of the Speakers School in Thunder Bay.<ref>[http://www.speakersschool.ca/2011/06/graduation-spring-2011/ Speakers School "Graduating class of 2011"]</ref>
Mantis has spent 30 years in efforts to build a "comprehensive, fair system for all workers injured on the job."<ref>WSIB takes steps to curb Stigma http://www.cos-mag.com/Legal/Legal-Stories/WSIB-takes-steps-to-curb-stigma.html</ref> After organizing locally<ref>"Injured workers program gets axed" TBNewsWatch http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/99324/Injured-workers-program-gets-axed</ref>, Mantis organized regionally by forming self-help groups and undertaking ongoing government lobbying through a provincial group he co-founded - the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups.<ref>Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups http://www.injuredworkersonline.org/Organizations/oniwg.html</ref> Mantis then used links built with organized labour and injured workers groups in other provinces to create the first National Injured Workers Conference in 1990<ref>History of CIWA – Canadian Injured Workers Alliance http://www.ciwa.ca/content/history-ciwa</ref>, which led him to co-found the [[Canadian Injured Workers Alliance]] (CIWA). Mantis was elected National Coordinator of CIWA from 1996 to 2002<ref>Evidence of the House Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2446934&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1&Language=E</ref>.
 
Mantis was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Workers Compensation Board (now called the [[Workplace Safety & Insurance Board|WSIB]]) from 1991 to 1994, and currently serves on the Board of the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers,<ref>Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc Board of Directors http://www.ohcow.on.ca/about_us/board_of_directors.html</ref> a WSIB-funded network of clinics providing comprehensive occupational health services to injured workers across Ontario.
 
More recently, Mantis has developed and taught a Speakers School for vulnerable adults, such as people living in poverty, single moms, [[First Nations]] and [[Métis people (Canada)|Métis]] people, people with disabilities and the unemployed, in order teach skills the disadvantaged may use to have more control over their lives and address social inequities.<ref>Speakers School “Graduating class of 2011 http://www.speakersschool.ca/2011/06/graduation-spring-2011/</ref> Steve Mantis is founding Chair of the Board of Directors of the Speakers School in Thunder Bay.
 
=== Awards ===
Mantis has received the national Judge George Ferguson Award for "contributing in an outstanding way by enabling equality and full community participation for people with physical disabilities throughout Canada.",<ref>Judge George Ferguson Award (National) [http://www.marchofdimes.ca/EN/GrantsAwards/VolEmpCommAwards/Pages/JudgeGeorgeFergusonAward%28National%29.aspx Judge George Ferguson Award (National)]</ref>, the Credit Union Central of Ontario Social Responsibility Award, the Canada 125th Anniversary Medal from [[Veterans Affairs Canada]] for Canadians who have made "a significant contribution to their fellow citizens, to their community, or to Canada,"<ref>Veterans Affairs Canada: Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation, 1992 [http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=collections/cmdp/mainmenu/group10/accm Veterans Affairs Canada: Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation, 1992]</ref> and the Ron Ellis Award from the Ontario Bar Association for "exceptional contributions and achievements in the field of workers' compensation law".<ref>Ontario Bar Association: Award of Excellence [http://www.oba.org/En/wcb/wcb_main/award_en.aspx Award of Excellence], Ontario Bar Association</ref>
 
 
==Electoral record==
{{CANelec/top|ON|2011|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|[[Michael Gravelle]] | 11,765| 45.00| -1.78}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Steve Mantis| 9,111| 34.85| -3.41}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|Anthony LeBlanc| 4,578| 17.51| +8.11}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Scot Kyle | 555| 2.12| -3.43}}
{{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Tony Gallo | 133| 0.51|&nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes| 26,142|100.0}}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|97|0.37}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|26,239|48.20}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|54,443}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Ontario<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wemakevotingeasy.ca/media/EO_Site/official_GE/ED091-F0244.pdf|author=Elections Ontario|date=2011|title=Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Thunder Bay—Superior North|access-date=1 June 2014}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>}}
{{end}}
 
==References==
Line 100 ⟶ 78:
*[http://www.stevemantis.ca/ Steve Mantis]
 
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Mantis, Steve
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Canadian politician
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1950
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Reading, Pennsylvania]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mantis, Steve}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Ontario New Democratic Party candidates in Ontario provincial elections]]
[[Category:People from Thunder Bay District]]
[[Category:Recipients of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal]]
[[Category:PeoplePoliticians from ThunderReading, BayPennsylvania]]
[[Category:People from Reading, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Greek descent]]
[[Category:Canadian amputees]]
[[Category:Canadian politicians with disabilities]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Mantis"