Candidates vying for the councillor's seat in Ward 18 Davenport squared off at a meeting Tuesday evening, May 18, although it was less of a debate than an opportunity to introduce themselves to local residents.
A sparse, yet enthusiastic audience gathered at Casa Da Madeira on Dupont Street. The eight candidates who have registered so far were in attendance, including Ana Bailao, Kevin Beaulieu, Frank De Jong, Nha Le, Kirk Russell, Jack Triolo, Hema Vyas and Ken Wood.
After drawing names to determine the speaking order, Wood was first up to introduce himself. Apologizing for his tardiness, he cited transit and gridlock for not only being late, but for some of the reasons he chose to run for municipal council. The long-time Davenport resident, who lives in the College Street and Lansdowne Avenue area, said he is on a disability pension and has used foodbanks from time to time.
"No one's been consulted or advised when something happens," said Wood. "I want to change that. I want someone who listens to the residents. We have 18o languages in this city. The 3-1-1 service handles 180 languages, but the election only handles 15. We have a lot of diversity in this city. We have to rise up to meet that."
Vyas said she has spent years working in the Davenport community.
"It's that passion for the community that brings me here today," she said. "My passion has always been about increasing the quality of life of those living in our community."
Vyas said she is the past-president of the June Callwood Centre for Women and Families, a facility for young mothers and families in need and a community representative at Culturelink, which promotes self-sufficiency, positive interaction and understanding between host and newcomer communities.
"It's all these experiences that inform my decisions," said Vyas.
Campaigning door-to-door, she said residents have told her their concern for the retail strip's empty storefronts and their desire for more green space in the community.
"I truly believe that the councillor's first job is to listen," she said.
Russell, not the actor Kurt Russell, he pointed out, was born and raised in Jamaica.
"I was attracted to Canada because it appreciates you for who you are. The colour of your skin doesn't matter," said the seven-year Davenport resident.
The three Ts: traffic, transit and taxes are Russell's priorities, he said.
Triolo's platform, he said, "is simple."
"To represent the people of the ward," he said. "I want to represent individuals at city council. People are frustrated they're not being represented."
There was just 30 per cent participation in the last municipal election, Triolo said.
"I'm glad there's quite a few people running in Ward 18, there's lots of choice," he said.
It's common knowledge that Ward 18 is comprised of immigrants, said De Jong. Forty-six per cent have immigrated to Davenport since 1996. De Jong's parents came to Toronto from the Netherlands.
"I know, as a child of immigrants, what it's like to come to Canada," he said.
Ward 18 is undergoing significant transformation geographically, according to De Jong.
"I love living here. It's the best of what Toronto has to offer in terms of multicultures living in harmony," said De Jong, who added that he is running for councillor for two specific reasons: transportation and development.
"We don't want our major roads to be freeways for people outside our community. We need more people-friendly streets," he said.
As for development, De Jong said it is critical that in the next few years that Davenport "gets it right."
"When you do bad development, you're stuck with it for years."
No stranger to city politics, Beaulieu said he'll always remember the first time he had to contact city hall on behalf of a local resident.
"It was very intimidating," he recalled. "I carry that with me everywhere I go - it's imperative that people have access to city hall. Community issues are paramount, but we need our city to succeed. I'm a supporter of Transit City. It's time to do it."
Locally, said the Gladstone Avenue resident, who has worked in Davenport for years, development is bound to happen along the rail corridor and in some former school board properties.
"I've been proud to be involved in the development along Queen West. I want to work with you to build on our successes we've had, to help our accomplishments grow," said Beaulieu.
Bailao said she came to Canada 15 years ago and settled in Davenport. Her parents chose the neighbourhood for its resources and network of friends to help them adjust to their new life. Her grandmother, who was Bailao's role model always said, 'Give back to your community.'
'The community that raises you is the community you praise,' Bailao said her grandmother used to say.
Community engagement is one of her key priorities.
"I want to work with you to make the TTC better. If we must pay $3 a ride, we must make sure it's efficient and friendly," said Bailao. "We need a community vision for our ward."
Working in the non-profit sector will serve Bailao well in being a strong voice for Ward 18, she said.
Responsible and fitting development, traffic and transportation and the state of the Dundas West Business Improvement Area's (BIA) parking were key issues for community members.
"What would you do differently?" BIA Chair Sylvia Draper-Fernandez asked the would-be councillors, referring to the retail strip's loss of rush-hour parking.
The drastic cut in parking - from 25 spots to eight - is affecting business as is the Dundas Streetcar construction.
De Jong said that businesses have a right to be involved in the process from beginning to end. Russell said "everything" was poorly planned, that business owners were not properly informed. He suggested grants as a solution to help small business owners. Vyas said a councillor must be thorough when speaking to residents about any plans.
"I'm painfully aware of what it's like to have a councillor who didn't listen to residents," said Beaulieu. "What has to happen is early consultation and compensation. You've got to have a plan to keep businesses in business."
Bailao wondered why the lost of 42 per cent of parking had to happen at the same time work on the TTC tracks took place.
"Why haven't these projects been done at the same time?"
She said she would work to resolve the problems along the Dundas West retail strip.