Dozens of Toronto’s most enthusiastic candidates for council and mayor were pressed up against each other in line at city hall Friday morning, eager to present themselves to the election registration desk the moment it opened.
They rode in from all six boroughs. Flannels rubbed against three-piece suits. Bandanas and fedoras poked out from the crowd.
Some of the registrants are already well-known personages, especially if you move in community activist circles. But many more of them are obscure. Yet all of them optimistic. And all proffer visions for the betterment of the city.
Past the security checkpoint, the scene was not dissimilar to a busy day at Service Ontario.
With documents signed and fees paid, these newly registered candidates walked over to a hall full of newscasters and microphones to pitch themselves to the media.
By the end of the day, 30 had signed up to run for council and eight for mayor in the Oct. 26 municipal election. Nominations are open until Aug. 21.
These are some of the hopefuls who joined the race Friday:
Shawn Allen: The early bird
Businessman Shawn Allen was first in line Friday morning, arriving about 45 minutes before nominations opened.
It’s his second time running to represent Scarborough-Rouge Park. In a byelection in September to replace Jennifer McKelvie, he finished in third place with nearly 3,000 votes, or about 15 per cent of the vote share. He was defeated by Coun. Neethan Shan, whose office told the Star Friday will “most likely be running again.”
Allen was endorsed in that contest by conservative advocacy groups and candidates and ran with the slogan “Keeping taxes low.”
“A hundred plus people came up to me and said ‘You gotta run again,’” said Allen on Friday.
He said he would focus on transit, crime and the environment. “We’ve got a lot of time between now and the election. I’ve got to talk to the people in my neighbourhood and find out what are the issues today.”
Walied Khogali Ali: Bringing back respect
Organizer and social advocate Walied Khogali Ali frequents city hall as a member of council’s confronting anti-Black racism advisory committee. Khogali Ali has pushed for a moratorium on evictions in community housing until the city can produce data to prove there is no racial bias motivating the expulsions.
Khogali Ali travelled with an entourage — people he’s helped navigate the system and who are keen to praise him for his efforts. People like Reem Saad, who said she was evicted from community housing for spurious reasons. Khogali Ali has been advocating to the city on her behalf.
He is challenging Toronto Centre Coun. Chris Moise, who did not respond to a request for comment from the Star Friday about his intention to run again.
“Our communities are plagued with food insecurity and housing affordability,” said Khogali Ali. “I’m running to ensure we bring back respect to our communities.”
Nicki Ward: A business-minded contender
Another challenger to Moise’s throne is Nicki Ward, former advocacy director for The 519, an LGBTQ charity community centre. Ward had strong words about the incumbent, whom she placed a distant second to in the 2022 election.
“There’s an absence of communication with local residents … Sankofa Square was highly controversial and the criticism there was lack of communication,” she said.
Ward, who is from England, said she “fell in love” with Toronto when she moved here nearly 30 years ago. She feels as though this city marries American hustle with European values. It’s where she said she first felt comfortable enough to come out.
Ward also said Toronto Centre has the population and density of a municipality all on its own and must be governed as such. She said it needs a business-minded leader such as herself who can manage operations effectively and absorb community feedback at scale.
“The size of the ward makes it one of the major cities in Canada,” she said. “You can’t just run it as a ma and pa operation.”
Gabe Blanc: A young voice for change
Former political staffer Gabe Blanc wants to become his old boss Shelley Carroll’s peer on council. He’s vying to unseat Dianne Saxe (University-Rosedale).
At 25 years old, he’s nearly half a century younger than his opponent, and thinks his youthfulness makes him well-suited to represent a ward where about 40 per cent of the population is under 34 years old.
“I worked at city hall and I saw a problematic culture when it comes to delivering results,” he said. “My ward has a lot of people who rely on public transit every single day. Fifty-seven per cent of us rent.
“These are people, especially young people, who can’t wait for change to take another generation.”
Blanc acknowledged similarities between how he and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani present themselves, especially online. His social media channels are full of snappy, saturated, yellow-fonted, quick-zoom political pitches.
But Blanc insisted he was doing this before the Big Apple’s mayor.
Krissan Veerasingam: An eye on affordability
Transit advocate Krissan Veerasingam is taking on six-term councillor Michael Thompson in Scarborough Centre.
The member of advocacy group TTCrider said he sees the affordability crisis in the suburban ward deepening and wants to help reverse it. Veerasingam said he found council probing the idea of opening up government-run grocery stores inspiring and wants to help bring the idea to life.
“Advocating for that is so important,” he said. “In Scarborough, in my community, so many people can’t afford food. Implementing solutions is what we need right now.
“Anyone who says it can’t be done is just standing in the way.”
