In addition to CKSO Radio and Television, Gordon worked in sales for UPJOHN Pharmaceuticals and then became a secondary school teacher.
In 1983, as parliamentary assistant to Minister of Health Larry Grossman, Gordon was able to secure a decision by the government to establish a cancer treatment centre in Sudbury, which now serves Northeastern Ontario.
INCO became very interested in participating in this project because it would benefit both the company and the community, and through negotiations, eventually received a grant from the Ontario government.
The outcome was that he and Hamilton spearheaded the organization of a coalition of mayors of the five largest cities in Northern Ontario (Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste.
In 1999, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care appointed Dr. Robert McKendry to report on physician supply and demand in the province.
The report gave weight to the view that "the established medical schools had paid insufficient attention to preparing students for rural and northern practice".
[7] In addition to the efforts being made by the university community and medical professionals in the north,[8] Gordon realized that political initiative was required to put pressure on the government of Premier Mike Harris.
[8] However, the expert panel had other ideas,[9] and on February 16, 2001, the Toronto Star published a leaked report that the intention was that Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Windsor would become clinical education campuses, extensions of programmes at existing medical schools.
[11] Experts from around the world, including Australia, New Mexico, and Finland attended, and on May 17, 2001, Tony Clement, the new Minister of Health, announced in Sudbury a new stand-alone medical school that would specialize in preparing students for northern, rural and remote practice.
Gordon was the founding chair of the sureNet consortium, which included partners such as health, education, municipal, and private groups.
In 1999, Gordon became the founding chairman of NetCentral, a not-for-profit corporation supported by the mayors of Sudbury, Chapleau, Parry Sound, Elliot Lake and Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands.
Gordon worked closely with the proponents of two major developments in the arts community over the past two decades: Music and Film in Motion,[20] and Cinéfest.
Gordon provided encouragement and support through Greater Sudbury Development Corporation for the city's first nationwide CBC television program, Chilly Beach.
Gordon was a member of the Northeastern Ontario Smart Growth Panel appointed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
This panel was composed of leaders from industry, educational institutions, First Nations, community organizations and the municipal sector "to develop recommendations for bringing increased prosperity and growth to northeastern Ontario".
As mayor, Gordon worked with city council to establish a climate in which collaboration and co-operation were encouraged to find a way to hold the line on property taxes.
On the occasion of the official visit of Lieutenant Governor Hilary Weston on July 1, 2001, he received recognition from the multicultural community at the Canada Day celebrations.
He has been made an honorary lifetime member of the Societa Caruso and was awarded the Gold Combatants Cross in recognition of his assistance to the Polish Combatants Association, an organization originally established by 5,000 Polish veterans who had fought with the Allies in World War II and who were allowed by the Canadian government to immigrate to Canada.
He lobbied, along with the original proponents Hélène Fontaine (now deceased) and Jacques Michaud, for the establishment of a French college in Sudbury, which is now Collège Boréal.
Since his retirement from politics, Gordon continues to serve as chair of NetCentral, a not-for-profit community-based network operating in Northern Ontario.
[24] Based on his report, city council called on the Ontario government to adopt several measures to address the ALC crisis.