Former Stratford mayor appointed to new cybersecurity advisory role at Toronto Metropolitan University

Former Stratford mayor Dan Mathieson will be returning to the world of municipal affairs after Toronto Metropolitan University announced this week it appointed Mathieson as special adviser on cybersecurity and municipal engagement at the university’s Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst.

During his last term as mayor, Mathieson steered the city through a 2019 ransomware attack that encrypted the city’s digital systems and ultimately resulted in Stratford paying more than $75,000 in bitcoin to the hacker. After leading the city through the crisis, Mathieson became a well-known public authority on cyber risks for municipalities and spoke widely on the topic.

That experience, Mathieson said, is what helped land him this new job, which he will serve on a part-time basis.

“It is now very much a focal point for a lot of Canadian municipalities not to disregard their cybersecurity,” Mathieson told the Beacon Herald. “We’re seeing a push for more online services that our residents would like to access, but with that comes a risk. … There needs to be a recognition that municipal government doesn’t have huge resources and needs the support of federal and provincial governments to help ensure the safety and security of not only the data, but the framework and the networks.

“I just think it’s important to be able to advocate on behalf of municipalities and help (Toronto Metropolitan University) understand where municipalities are at as they advocate at senior levels of government and (conduct) the research they do. … I know many of the players and it’s an opportunity now to take my network and learned experience and put it to good use.”

In his new role, Mathieson said he will attend many of the same municipal conferences and events he did as mayor, leverage the network of municipal partners and stakeholders he built during his political career, and help bring the work of researchers from the Cybersecure Catalyst to senior levels of government in an effort to drive change across the municipal cybersecurity landscape.

“Strong digital infrastructure is the backbone of Canadian economic stability and growth,” Toronto Metropolitan University president and vice-chancellor Mohamed Lachemi said in a press release. “We look forward to contributing our expertise towards its cyber resilience through Dan’s appointment and the catalyst’s intensified focus on supporting municipalities.”

Trish Dyl, Cybersecure Catalyst’s director of corporate training, said the university would be working closely with municipalities across the province and country to “deliver the critical programming they need in this environment of heightened cyber threats.”

“Dan’s appointment is crucial in advancing our efforts and we are thrilled to have him join our team,” Dyl said.

As he prepares to step into this new role, Mathieson urged municipalities that may be struggling to keep up with the need for continuous cybersecurity improvements to reach out to organizations like the Cybersecure Catalyst and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for guidance and support.

“They can provide strong information and blueprints and road maps on how to go forward,” Mathieson said. “I think that is going to be key as municipalities chart this next frontier of digital-service provision.”

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