save the greenbelt!

Click here for video of the event!!

Read text below before you view the video:

The October 13, 2022  All Candidates Meeting for Thornhill/Markham Municipal Election, Ward 1, was hosted by YOUR two resident groups:   

1. AWRA (Aileen-Willowbrook Residents Association): 

(Join/support us if you live east of Bayview)

2. WOSTRI (Ward One South Thornhill Residents Group, Inc.): http://thornhillwardone.com 

(Join/support if you live west of Bayview)

The meeting was moderated by Thornhill/Vaughan resident Andrew Baldwin.      

Questions were compiled from resident submissions to the planning committee previous to the event. Topics covered included: development (planning, infrastructure, traffic), environment, zoning, school board, accountability, and heritage. 

The audience question segment was not videotaped. 

Parts of Video Sadly Missing/Lost due to technical issues:  

• Candidate Platform Presentations by: Don Hamilton, Keith Irish, Susan Geller, Nafiseh Pourhassani, Sophia Sun  
• Answer to Question: What are your plans for the Shouldice property, including heritage buildings and the land, now that you have purchased it?  

You will be able to vote for one candidate for Mayor, one Candidate for Local Councillor, and up to four different regional Councillors. 

Regional Councillors represent you at both Markham Council and at the York Regional Council. The Region decides: which farm land is protected; the location of future intensification and regional roads; transit; and community housing, AND are responsible for the spending of 75% of your Property Taxes.  

All Ward 1 candidates were invited, including Mayoral candidates; Ward 1 Councillor Candidates; all Regional Councillor Candidates; and all Wards 1 & 8 School Trustee Candidates.  

Present at All Candidates Meeting:  

2 Mayoral Candidates:  

Don Hamilton 

Frank Scarpitti   

2 Ward 1 Local Councillor Candidates:  

Keith Irish 

Howard Shore  

6 Regional Councillor Candidates:  

Nirmala Armstrong 

Alan Ho 

Jim Jones 

Joe Li 

Greg Marcos 

Sophia Sun (present for only part of meeting ) 

Shanta Sundaarason 

Allan Tam  

4 School Trustee Candidates: 

Carol Cotton (English Catholic) 

Susan Geller (English Public) 

Srdjana Jaksic (English Public) 

Nafiseh Pourhassani (English Public)  

Acclaimed: Donald Blais (School Trustee French Catholic)  

Thank you to the York Region District School Board and, specifically, Thornlea Secondary School Department Head, Robert Belchevski; Thornlea Principal, Joe Foti; caretaking staff; and student volunteers for making this event possible.  

Thanks to 4th year journalism student Elle Laws for interviewing candidates on video prior to and after the event, and to Stefan Ellison for editing the final version of the ACM video.