George Minakakis

His Worship-elect
George Minakakis
Mayor of Milton
Incumbent
Assumed office
2026
Preceded byGord Krantz
Personal details
PartyIndependent
WebsiteOfficial website

George Minakakis is the mayor-elect of Milton, Ontario, and a former corporate executive.

Business career

Minakakis was Country General Manager for Luxottica in Canada, overseeing LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sunglass Hut, and licensed retail to department stores. He then was made CEO, Greater China for the same company, as it brought LensCrafters to the nation, later Country General Manager in Canada.

He was quoted repeatedly by Canadian news outlets in business articles, and wrote a number of opinion pieces.

Political career

Minakakis gained note locally as chair of ACTION Milton, Association of Citizens Together In Our Nassagaweya, a group that fought a quarry application for Milton's Campbellville area, made by James Dick Construction Ltd. The group was well-funded, raising $100,000 in donation pledges early in its existence.

Incumbent councillor Kristina Tesser Derksen won re-election in Ward 1, during the local municipal elections, with 4,200 votes to Minakakis' 1,671.

In 2025, Tesser Derksen was elected Member of Parliament for Malton East-Halton Hills South in 2022. A by-election was called, despite past precedent that the second-place finisher in a race would be appointed. Minakakis won with 45.43% of the vote, in a race of nine candidates.

He won a by-election as Ward 1 municipal councillor in Milton, in October 2025. On council, he was part of a successful vote against a temporary ban on major AI data centre development. He had previously advocated for increased use of AI in the municipality.

References

  1. 1 2 Patterson, Craig (May 20, 2026). "George Minakakis Says Municipalities Must Modernize Like Businesses". Retail-Insider.com. Retail Insider Media Ltd. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
  2. ↑ https://www.thestar.com/business/loblaw-to-buy-shoppers-drug-mart-for-12-4b/article_325213db-2912-5225-929a-c32f3cbec897.html https://www.thestar.com/business/sporting-life-opens-new-store-at-richmond-hill-s-hillcrest-mall/article_4e1b10eb-4539-53de-b264-2728bbb9a2f7.html https://www.thestar.com/business/sears-canada-ceo-calvin-mcdonald-quits/article_6ed889bc-446a-59d6-9ca6-4598eca8442e.html https://www.thestar.com/business/tim-hortons-has-historically-struggled-in-the-u-s/article_f7d2406f-374a-58f3-85b3-5c0276c3e541.html https://www.thestar.com/business/bonnie-brooks-president-of-hbc-talks-about-her-newest-challenge/article_cc1fed3b-9d54-5aa2-9d06-6aac5bf1ec42.html https://www.thestar.com/business/mcdonald-s-offers-up-four-hour-sandwich-making-video/article_ce60c759-d56c-5dc5-9b6a-f280b4c53113.html
  3. ↑ "Retailers need agility, and a reliance on convenience to hold on until 2022". The Toronto Star. January 1, 2021. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Fear shopping and self-quarantine could speed up inevitable transformation of retail". The Toronto Star. March 8, 2020. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
  5. ↑ Whitnell, Tim (September 11, 2018). "Town of Milton sending letter to Ontario ministry objecting to Twiss Road quarry". The Canadian Champion. Metroland Media Group. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
  6. ↑ Sadewo, Bambang (October 18, 2021). "Concerns linger over proposed Milton quarry after environmental assessment designation by Ontario". The Canadian Champion. Metroland Media Group. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
  7. ↑ Sadewo, Bambang (May 14, 2019). "Community raises $100,000 to fight proposed quarry in Milton". The Canadian Champion. Metroland Media Group. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
  8. ↑ Pecar, Steve (October 26, 2026). "Longest-serving mayor in Canadian history has been defeated". inSauga. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
  9. ↑ "MEET YOUR CANDIDATE: George Minakakis is running for Milton's Ward 1 council seat". MiltonToday. Village Media. October 26, 2026. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
  10. ↑ Cilliers, Roland (September 21, 2026). "'The wrong message': Milton votes against temporary ban on major AI data centres". The Canadian Champion. Metroland Media Group. Retrieved October 26, 2026.