Bonnie Crombie recently reached a milestone birthday—the kind that often comes with a big celebration or a grand party. However, instead of marking her 65th with family and friends, she was fully engaged in debate preparation, immersed in the fast-paced world of Ontario politics.
For Crombie, who entered politics at 47, this moment was more than just a reflection on age—it was a reminder of the double standards women continue to face in leadership.
Confronting Ageism Head-On
Bonnie Crombie isn’t one to back down from a challenge. During the 2023 Ontario Liberal leadership race, she fired back when fellow candidate Nate Erskine-Smith implied she might not commit to multiple election cycles, calling out his remark as ageist—a moment that clearly stuck with her.
“I think women are judged differently,” Crombie recently noted, highlighting the Progressive Conservatives’ attack ads targeting her. One ad in particular questions, “Bonnie, who?” and labels her as “expensive”—a claim she finds baffling.
The PC ads also criticize her tenure as Mississauga’s mayor, her past support for the carbon tax (which she has since distanced herself from), and even aspects of her personal life—most notably, a property in the Hamptons. Crombie clarifies that the house was an inheritance from her aunt and is now being sold due to her divorce.
But rather than shaking her confidence, these attacks appear to be fueling her determination.
A Life Shaped by Hard Work
Bonnie Crombie often draws a sharp contrast between her upbringing and that of Premier Doug Ford. Though both were raised in Etobicoke, their childhoods were worlds apart.
Her father battled alcoholism, and her parents divorced when she was just three—an uncommon occurrence at the time. Determined to build a better life for her daughter, Crombie’s mother moved them into a rooming house run by her grandparents, working tirelessly to make ends meet.
Despite financial struggles, Crombie never felt deprived. She fondly remembers taking streetcar rides with her mother to see The Nutcracker as a special treat or going on day trips to Wasaga Beach with her stepfather after her mother remarried.
Her father’s absence left a deep impression. The first time she saw him in decades, he was staying at a Toronto homeless shelter. When he passed away, she was listed as his next of kin—a heartbreaking moment that still brings her to tears.
“Energizer Bonnie”
Crombie’s resilience is one of the qualities her eldest son, Alex, admires most. “Because of those experiences, she’s truly empathetic,” he says. “She genuinely cares about issues that many politicians only talk about.”
Her boundless energy has earned her the nickname “Energizer Bonnie” among her team. Even in the midst of an intense election campaign, she prioritizes fitness. Just after Christmas, she went rock climbing in Arizona with her partner—who, she jokes, is “not in politics. God, no.”
She also has a sharp, dry sense of humor. While her recent quip about challenging Doug Ford to a push-up contest may not have landed as intended, it showcased her candid, unfiltered personality. “The more real politicians are, the more interesting they are,” says her longtime campaign strategist, D’arci McFadden.
And in case you were wondering—yes, Crombie probably would win that push-up contest.
From Flyers to City Hall
Crombie’s introduction to politics wasn’t through policy debates—it was because of a boy.
“He asked, ‘What are you doing this weekend?’ and I got excited,” she laughs. “Then he said, ‘Want to come help me drop flyers?’”
The boy’s uncle was a cabinet minister and, like her family, Polish. That moment sparked her interest in politics, but it was Pierre Trudeau’s vision—his Charter of Rights and Freedoms—that truly inspired her. She was hooked.
Before entering politics, Crombie built a successful corporate career, working at McDonald’s, Disney, and the Insurance Bureau of Canada. She even co-founded a cosmetics company with a classmate from her MBA program. Her work took her across Canada and the U.S. before she eventually settled in Mississauga.
After an unsuccessful run for MP in 2011, she found an unexpected mentor in Mississauga’s legendary mayor, Hazel McCallion. McCallion encouraged her to enter municipal politics, advice Crombie took to heart. She won a city council seat and later succeeded McCallion as mayor.
Still Going Strong at 65
Now at 65, with an estimated net worth of $5 million, Crombie has no plans to slow down. Her son, Alex, often gets asked why she’s still pushing forward.
“The honest answer is, number one, she still cares about the issues,” he says. “And number two, she really enjoys it. She really, really enjoys meeting new people.”
Crombie’s journey has been anything but ordinary. From a childhood shaped by hardship to a successful corporate career, from city hall to the provincial stage—she has spent a lifetime proving that she’s not one to back down from a challenge.
