Rexall founder, former fighter pilot running for Collingwood mayor

By John Edwards Collingwood Connection

Michael Blair believes his business and corporate administration background can be an asset for the Town of Collingwood.

It’s one of the reasons he has decides to run for mayor in the upcoming municipal election.

Blair was born in Moose Factory, Ontario and was a fighter pilot until 1974.

He joined General Electric and rose to senior vice president of corporate development before starting his own company, The Endfield Corporation.

“That company started with one factory in Cobourg that made plastic parts and through acquisition it grew to a billion dollars in assets and 10,000 employees,” he said.

He went on to operate a number of companies, including founding Rexall Drugs in 1991.

Blair has been in Collingwood part-time since 1988 and retired here in 2011. He believes taxes are too high and would be in favour of a tax freeze or a reduction.

He would also like to see the town investigate how to regulate short-term rentals such as Airbnb.

“I have time and I can make a contribution,” he said. “I see with my administrative background, the possibility that I can be of use by advancing the economics of the town.”