Joseph Halstead is the former Commissioner responsible for Economic Development, Culture and Tourism in the City of Toronto. In this capacity, he was also responsible for the Parks and Recreation system, as well as Major Events.

Previously, he spent 24 years with the Provincial Government of Ontario in five different Ministries in a broad range of management positions, rising to the position of Assistant Deputy Minister of the Provincial Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation.

Mr. Halstead has been involved in the business sector as well as Sports and Recreation Sectors most of his professional career. He has served on Boards such as: the Premier’s Roundtable on Volunteerism, the Toronto Community Foundation, Canada Games Council, the Inter-Provincial Lottery Corporation and the Toronto Economic Development Corporation.

He was the City’s lead person on Toronto’s bid for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and the Province’s representative on the bid for the 1996 Olympic Games.

Mr. Halstead was also the Executive Lead for the World Youth Day Conference and the Pope’s visit in 2002. Currently, he is a Board member of Ontario Place Corporation, and the Toronto Raptors Foundation. In addition, he is chair of the hugely successful Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana).