Background Questions
1) Do you live in Ward 15?
Yes, I have lived in the ward since 2003, and it is where my husband, Dr. Ken Lin, and I have raised our three daughters.
2) Have you previously run and/or been elected for municipal office (school board trustee or city councillor). Please provide details.
Yes, I was twice elected as the Trustee for this Ward to the Toronto District School Board in 2018 and again in 2022. I was also twice elected by my 21 fellow Trustees from across Toronto to serve as Chair of the Board in 2022 and 2023.
3) Have you engaged in community and/or city building activities? Please provide examples.
During my work as the local elected Toronto District School Board Trustee, I have held over 15 ward forums on many topics including improving math, addressing literacy, and managing school pupil accommodation and development planning. I have also held over 25 coffee mornings for the community, and I meet with parent council chairs and community groups regularly.
I have also sat on a number of important community committees and panels over the last six years on the topics of:
- Inner-City/Model Schools,
- French as a Second Language,
- the Early Years Community Advisory Committee,
- Parent Involvement Advisory Committee,
- Safety in Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe, and
- Improving the development of the southeast corner of Yonge and Eglinton, which culminated in the report, “A New Town Centre for Midtown Toronto”.
Prior to my elected role as our local TDSB Trustee for Don Valley West, I served as the Co-Chair for the Northlea Elementary and Middle School Home and School Association and Parent Council. I also ran communications and organized special events during my time on the Council.
4) Do you have any relationships with developers or labour unions who may have potential conflicts of interest with the City?
No.
Qualifications Questions
1) Why do you want to be the City Councillor for Don Valley West?
I want to make a difference in people’s lives. I want to make sure we have safe, clean, accessible, affordable, and friendly neighbourhoods where communities and businesses can thrive.
2) What experience and accomplishments do you bring that you think will make you a good representative for Ward 15?
I have represented the area for six years as the local Toronto District School Board Trustee, including the last two years as Chair of the Board. As head of the largest school board in Canada, with over 239,000 students, 40,000 employees and an annual operating budget of $3.4 billion, my experience along with my strategic, pragmatic approach have resulted in a number of accomplishments that I am quite proud of. These include, but are not limited to:
- Securing major capital improvements for schools like Maurice Cody, Rolph Road, and Hodgson by working with City Councillors and the Provincial Government.
- Six consecutive balanced budgets passed.
- Working with the Ontario Government, the Mayor’s Office, Toronto Police Services and SafeTO to secure over $1.8 million for youth violence prevention.
- Spearheading the movement to restrict cell phone use in school classrooms.
- Opening three new French Immersion programs in Don Valley West (one in Bedford Park and two in Thorncliffe Park)
My experience has earned me the respect of many community leaders who have worked with me, including:
- Our former Member of Provincial Parliament Kathleen Wynne, who served our community for 19 years,
- City of Toronto Deputy Mayors Jennifer McKelvie and Mike Colle,
- City of Toronto Budget Chief Shelley Carroll,
- Our current Member of Provincial Parliament Stephanie Bowman,
- Our current Member of Parliament Rob Oliphant,
- Six current Toronto District School Board Trustees Shelley Laskin, Farzana Rajwani, Dan MacLean, Michelle Aarts, Patrick Nunziata, and James Li
- Many former Trustees including Gerri Gershon and former Chair Robin Pilkey, and
- Go Green Youth Centre Co-Chair Lisa Grogan-Green.
3) What are the key 3-5 issues you see facing Ward 15 and the City?
- Building walkable communities with parks, recreation facilities, and community centres,
- Managing traffic and fighting gridlock,
- Ensuring development reflects our community’s values, and
- Tackling crime to ensure our neighbourhoods are safe.
4) What is the first thing you will work on if elected?
We need to get Don Valley West moving, and moving safely. Going door to door throughout the riding, residents and business owners have consistently spoken to me about traffic, road safety and construction. I will start by calling an interdivisional meeting of senior city staff to improve the coordination of local construction projects to reduce traffic congestion, expand community safety zones, and spearhead transportation management plans in high-traffic neighbourhoods.
Just as I have done as an elected trustee, I will share updates with Ward 15 residents by implementing communications channels that will keep community members informed of progress (such as community coffees and a regular newsletter), and this will also in turn help ensure my staff and I receive feedback on this work and on the work in other important areas. We can make positive change in Don Valley West by working together!