Bonnie Crombie recently hit a milestone birthday—the kind that usually calls for a big celebration, maybe even a grand party. But instead of toasting to 65 with family and friends, she was deep in debate prep, fully immersed in the whirlwind of Ontario politics.
For Crombie, who took the plunge into politics at 47, this moment sparked reflection—not just on her age, but on the double standards women face in leadership.
Facing Ageism Head-On
Crombie isn’t one to shy away from a fight. During the 2023 Ontario Liberal leadership race, she didn’t hold back when fellow contender Nate Erskine-Smith suggested she might not stick around for multiple election cycles. She slammed the comment as ageist, and it’s clear she hasn’t forgotten it.
“I think women are judged differently,” Crombie recently said, pointing to some of the Progressive Conservatives’ attack ads against her. One in particular claims, “Bonnie, who?” and labels her “expensive.” Crombie isn’t sure what that even means.
The PC ads also take jabs at her time as Mississauga’s mayor, her stance on the carbon tax (which she has since distanced herself from), and even her personal life—specifically a house in the Hamptons, which she clarifies was inherited from an aunt and is being sold due to her divorce.
But if the attacks were meant to shake her, they seem to be having the opposite effect.
A Life Built on Hard Work
Crombie often contrasts her background with Premier Doug Ford’s. Both grew up in Etobicoke, but their experiences couldn’t have been more different.
Her father struggled with alcoholism, and her parents split when she was just three. Divorce was rare at the time, but her mother was determined to give her daughter a better life. They moved into a rooming house run by her grandparents, scraping by to make ends meet.
Despite their hardships, Crombie never felt deprived. She recalls taking the streetcar with her mother to see The Nutcracker ballet as a special treat or visiting Wasaga Beach for a day trip with her stepfather after her mom remarried.
Her father’s absence left a lasting impact. She saw him for the first time in decades when he was staying in a Toronto homeless shelter toward the end of his life. After his passing, she was named his next of kin—a moment that still brings her to tears.
The “Energizer Bonnie”
Crombie’s resilience is something her eldest son, Alex, admires deeply. “I think because of those experiences, she’s truly empathetic,” he says. “She truly does care about some of these issues that a lot of politicians just talk about.”
Known for her boundless energy, Crombie’s team affectionately calls her the “Energizer Bonnie.” Even in the middle of a high-stakes election campaign, she makes time for fitness. Just after Christmas, she went rock climbing in Arizona with her partner—who, she playfully clarifies, “is not in politics. God, no.”
She also has a sharp, dry sense of humor. Her recent joke about challenging Doug Ford to a push-up contest might not have landed exactly as planned, but it showcased her unfiltered and candid personality. “The more real politicians are, the more interesting they are,” says her longtime campaign strategist, D’arci McFadden.
And if you’re wondering—yes, Crombie actually could win that push-up contest.
From Flyers to City Hall
Crombie’s political spark was ignited in high school—not by policy debates, but by 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?'”
His uncle was a cabinet minister and Polish, just like her family. That moment opened Crombie’s eyes to politics. Then she learned about Pierre Trudeau’s vision, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the possibility of real change. She was hooked.
Before politics, Crombie built a strong career in the corporate world, 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 career took her across Canada and the U.S. before she eventually settled in Mississauga.
After an unsuccessful run for MP in 2011, Mississauga’s legendary mayor Hazel McCallion encouraged Crombie to enter municipal politics. She took the advice, winning a city council seat before eventually succeeding McCallion as mayor.
Still Going Strong at 65
At 65, with an estimated net worth of $5 million, Crombie isn’t slowing down. Alex, her son, gets asked all the time why she’s still doing this.
“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 political journey has been anything but conventional. From a childhood shaped by hardship to the corporate world, city hall, and now the provincial stage—she’s built a career defying expectations.
And if history has taught us anything, it’s that Bonnie Crombie is just getting started.
