Ward 5 — York South-Weston

Frances Nunziata has a 37-year career in politics which began when she was elected school trustee in 1985, and then city councillor in 1988, in the former City of York. Nunziata served as the Mayor of the City of York from 1994 to its amalgamation in 1998, and has been a Toronto city councillor since. Nunziata sits on several boards and committees. She has been city council speaker since 2010. Nunziata’s brother, John Nunziata, is also a politician who has served four times as the MP for the York South-Weston ward between 1984 and 2000. John Nunziata’s son, Patrick Nunziata, is a TDSB trustee for Ward 3. Nunziata was a councillor during Rob Ford’s tenure as mayor and often voted with him. During John Tory’s tenure, Nunziata predominantly voted with him. During her most recent term, Nunziata put forward a motion to turn the Toronto Rent Bank into a permanent grant-based program, pushed for a no-fault grant to help residents living in the flood-prone area of Rockcliffe repair flood damage, and asked for support for the establishment of a Somali Community Cultural and Recreation Centre in Toronto. While discussing police’s eviction of park encampments in Toronto during a council meeting, Nunziata suggested that the people who refused to leave did so to make a political statement. Nunziata has been endorsed by Mayor John Tory.

Chiara Padovani is a social worker who was born and raised in Mount Dennis, on the west side of Ward 5. Padovani studied international development studies during her undergraduate career, which led her to advocate for human rights across Argentina and Ecuador for three years. She currently works in community engagement at the North York Harvest Food Bank. She helped found the York South Weston Tenants’ Union to help tenants fight for affordable rent and is an outspoken advocate for affordable housing as well as improving social assistance. Padovani ran for councillor during the 2018 elections and came in third with 5,358 votes. Padovani’s platform prioritizes better transit and safer roads, affordable childcare, green neighbourhoods, and affordable housing. As city councillor, she says she would make all new housing developments on public land not-for-profit. Padovani has been endorsed by the Toronto & York Region Labour Council and Progress Toronto.

Gabriel Takang has an academic and professional background in public administration. Takang was born in Cameroon and immigrated to Canada in 2006 where he has become an advocate for the African-Caribbean community in Toronto. Takang has helped found several organizations fostering community, inclusion, and equity in Toronto, with a particular focus on Cameroonian-Canadians, such as the Camer Social Club, the Little Hands Global Foundation, and the Manyu Elements Cultural Association. He has also held positions at the Licensing Appeals Tribunal Ontario and the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Office of the Independent Police Review. His platform prioritizes affordable housing, accessible mental health and childcare services, ensuring​ transit and subway security, and tackling climate change. He also mentions improved services for seniors and the prevention of gun violence as priorities.