THE MONTHLY GLEANER | NOVEMBER 10 - DECEMBER 10, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 2 Myers represents Scarborough North, Ward 23; Moise won in Toronto Centre, Ward 13; and Morley was elected in Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Ward 3. “We are themost diverse community in Toronto. Our community is mostly immigrants or their direct descendants. We have so much potential in our community in terms of the different industries that are located here where we’re situated, the potential to expand transit, the potential to expand affordable housing, but we face a lot of challenges around poverty, around access to transit, employment, immigration status, so it’s a very humbling experience. There’s the potential to do so much good that I’m very excited,” said Myers, a former GraceKennedy Jamaican Birthright Programme intern who later became a board member of Grace Foods Canada. Myers is currently hiring a team of community-minded people to support his efforts and intends to introduce himself to his constituents as he gets to know them and their issues. He said there are many things that he could do as a councillor withinWard 23 without much approval from anyone else, such as addressing paedestrian safety. “That’s a huge issue, making sure that the bus stops are accessible to seniors, children, people with disabilities,” the new councillor pointed out. The incumbent councillor, Cynthia Lai, passed away a few days before election day, but Myers wants everyone who voted to know that he is their councillor, too, whether or not they voted for him, or whether they voted at all. He gives kudos to Thompson for being the sole black councillor for so long. “I can’t imagine how difficult that was. Now, looking forward, making sure that we have four black councillors is huge. It will make sure that we have a council that is much more reflective of the community that it serves andmake sure that different parts of the black experience are reflected in council,” addedMyers, noting that Morley made history as the first black woman elected to the city council. He said they all have different experiences and will bring their collective knowledge to City Hall. “I didn’t run to be the black councillor; I ran to be the councillor for everyone. Our community is incredibly diverse and I want to make sure that every single community and individual in my community feels that they are represented,”Myers emphasised Myers said his experience at TD Bank has prepared him well for this next chapter in his career, in terms of the values that the company ingrained in him, respect, diversity and teamwork. Born and raised in Toronto Community Housing, he said that upbringing taught him to see people for who they are and to never look down on anyone or to discount their experiences. For Thompson, who was easily re-elected councillor for Ward 21, Scarborough Centre, his plans are numerous for the next four years and include focusing on challenges, such as affordable housing, community safety, and the creation of jobs and training opportunities for young people and job-seekers. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT He also wants to continue to work with people, community groups and organisations on issues around diversity, which he underscores as extremely important. Thompson said seniors will also be a big focus of his initiatives since many have expressed interest in joining his efforts. In late September, Thompson was charged with two counts of sexual assault and made his first court appearance on November 1. Thematter will be back in a court in Bracebridge, Ontario, on November 29. The councillor is being represented by the law firm Henein Hutchinson LLP. As a result of the charges, he resigned as deputy mayor and chair of Toronto’s Economic and Community Development Committee, and his post on Centennial College’s board of directors. While avoiding direct comment on the charges and whether it affected his campaign, Thompson points out that more than 524 volunteers supported his re-election bid. “That’s more than anybody else in this entire city.” “I just know what I know, I’m not guilty of anything quite frankly. I just know what I know in terms of who I am so I’m not afraid to engage people and engage the community and as you see by the number of votes that came out, people were not concerned. They supported me and obviously they’re ELECTION CONTINUED FROM 1 PLEASE SEE IMPORTANT, 4 GREEN MYERS THOMPSON BAILEY MCDONALD
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUzNTI=