What to know
- Coun. Paula Fletcher is retiring after 23 years representing Toronto-Danforth and will finish her term in mid-November.
- Six candidates have launched campaigns to replace her in Ward 14, including former B.C. councillor Susan Chapelle, former Toronto-Danforth school trustee Sara Ehrhardt, and long-term residents Denise Walcott and Jason Stevens.
- Nominations close Aug. 21, with Toronto’s municipal election taking place on Oct. 26.
After representing Toronto’s Danforth community for 23 years, Coun. Paula Fletcher announced her retirement from city council.
Months before municipal elections, Fletcher announced on Wednesday that she will be retiring from City Hall and not seeking re-election as the leader for Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth, a position she has held since 2003.
In a letter shared on X, the councillor said she has decided to step down despite encouragement from residents to stay in the seat, reflecting on projects she has helped bring to life.
“It was encouragement I was honoured to receive because there is still so much to do… But it is time to pass the torch to the next generation,” she said. “It’s time for a new chapter for our community, and for me.”
Fletcher said she will be finishing her term as city councillor in mid-November, when a new councillor will pick up the seat.
Municipal elections deadline approaches
Fletcher’s announcement comes as Toronto prepares for municipal elections, which will be taking place on Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
But those still looking to throw their hat in the ring will need to move quickly, as nominations for mayors, city councillors, and school trustees opened on May 1 and are set to close on Friday, Aug. 21.
Read More
Those looking to run for mayor and city councillors must file a nomination paper and submit at least 25 signatures of endorsement from eligible voters.
Ward 14 welcomes new candidates
As Fletcher looks to step down, six candidates have launched their campaigns to run for the role.
Susan Chapelle
Healthcare executive and former two-term B.C. city councillor Susan Chapelle is one contender in the race.
Chapelle served two terms as a city councillor in Squamish, B.C., from 2011 to 2018, where she said she worked to connect city planning and zoning to public health. Another highlight of her term was advocating for violence survivors by introducing access to sexual assault forensic nursing services. Outside of politics, she has worked as a healthcare executive, researcher, and small-business owner, including owning the massage therapy clinic Chapelle Health.
Despite having served as a councillor in B.C., Chapelle was raised and spent most of her life in the Danforth neighbourhood. Her campaign focuses on bringing her practical experience to council.
Sara Ehrhardt
Hours after Fletcher announced her retirement, former Toronto-Danforth public school board Trustee Sara Ehrhardt launched her candidacy for the role.
In an interview with the Toronto Star, Ehrhardt said Fletcher’s surprise announcement made her consider running for council, highlighting that the long-time councillor was supportive of her while she was a trustee.
Ehrhardt was last elected as a trustee in 2022, but her role was affected after the Ontario government took over the TDSB under supervision. The candidate currently doesn’t hold an official campaign website as of publication, but told the Star she plans on focusing on housing and road safety as central points in her campaign.
Denise Walcott
Having launched her candidacy earlier this month is long-time Danforth resident Denise Walcott.
As a resident of the Danforth whose parents own a 30-year-old local business in the area, her campaign focuses on her connection to the neighbourhood and the local community.
If elected, Walcott promises to answer emails within 48 hours, hold quarterly town halls, and track her commitments publicly. Other highlights of her campaign include taking steps to provide relief to residents and business owners amid the Ontario Line construction, advocating for community safety programming and youth support, and creating a Seniors Table so senior residents can bring up their priorities.
Jason Stevens
Lifelong Danforth resident Jason Stevens was the first on the list to launch his candidacy back on May 29.
According to his campaign website, Stevens is consistently lobbying at the House of Commons on diverse public interest issues, including post-secondary education affordability. He also holds a psychology degree from McMaster University.
In his platform, Stevens promises to bring forward constituents’ concerns, with some of his listed proposals including challenging Ontario’s Billy Bishop Airport expansion proposal, freezing property taxes at two per cent, and building more shelter beds.
Other listed candidates include Maqsood Ahmad, Dennis Corcoran, and Michael Mitchell, while no information about their campaigns was available as of publication.
