Rob Payne

2025 King Township Honouree

The year was 1958 when Robbie's (Rob) grandparents moved to King City.  This was the very same year that the Temperanceville Presbyterian church was built.  Rob fondly recalls growing up just a couple of blocks behind the church, in the same town where his own parents grew up.  His father was in the Group Benefits/Insurance business and his mother managed trade shows promoting farm equipment.  They were resilient people that came from resilient people, and Rob was a resilient only child.

He is a confident and kind man today, who remembers what discrimination felt like as if it was yesterday.  He, the boy with red hair and pale skin, who was told he had a learning disability, and from a junior high math teacher that he “would never finish high school” befriended his classmate named Junior, who was such a large boy, he had to wear his fathers’ shoes to school.  Nobody picked on Rob after that.

It was in grade 9 at King City Secondary School that young Rob began getting active in school council, athletics and community involvement and later through the King City Lions Club.  Much like his father, Rob always had an interest in politics and would be the youngest ever elected as Municipal Councillor for King City in 1988 at the age of 21 and additionally volunteer under then Cabinet Minster Sinclair Stevens.  Food security has always been on Rob’s radar, and he’s very aware of the impacts insecurity can have on the community, having lived here his entire life and learning from those who came before him.

While Rob Payne has many great accomplishments and involvements to his name, including being selected and invited to join the as a public member of the Board for the College of Physicians and Surgeons Ontario, being a co-founding champion of the King City Terry Fox Run, a long and successful career in marketing with Bell Canada & Nestle, he’s most proud of where he comes from, and the decision he made 8 years ago to return to his roots and community, with a special focus on financial literacy when he opened the doors of his Edward Jones office in Bolton, Ontario.

He said very seriously, “Not everyone in King Township is wealthy, in fact, the need was up 60% this year over last year at the King Township Food Bank.”  It is with this awareness and approach that Rob can connect with his community and clients, where they need it most, continuing to improve both at the same time with his knowledge, experience and genuine care for the betterment of everyone.

When asked what he’s most proud of, “Jack and Nicholas” his two boys, are without a doubt Rob’s pride and joy.  Nicholas works in marketing & sales and is doing very well for himself.  Jack, a self-employed general contractor, built their ‘dream home’ five years ago on Rob’s grandparents' property.

“I wonder from time to time what that math teacher is doing now…” he laughed.  For a boy who wasn’t supposed to finish high school, I think it’s pretty safe to say that Rob Payne has more than surpassed that foolish math teacher in his educational pursuits and most certainly in his contributions to his community.

“Personally and professionally, lead with purpose and serve with heart.” - Rob Payne