Biography: Mike Colle is the current city councillor for Ward 8, having held that position since 2018, and serves as deputy mayor for North York. Prior to being councillor, Mike Colle was the Liberal MPP for Eglinton-Lawrence from 1995 to 2018.

Colle was the chair of the FIFA World Cup 2026 subcommittee, and vice chair of both the infrastructure and environment committee and nominating panel-corporations.

In 2025, Pasternak and fellow councillor Mike Colle were under scrutiny for taking a trip to Israel as part of a “Canadian political leadership mission.” The trip took place in November, just over two months after a United Nations Commission of Inquiry found that Israel was committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. In December 2025, Pasternak and Colle disclosed to the city’s integrity commissioner that Israel had paid almost $10,000 in travel costs for them.

Colle is opposed to the redevelopment projects at Lawrence Plaza, which entailed demolishing the current buildings and replacing them with mixed-used towers between six and 40 storeys.

He also hosted a gathering to discuss how to address the break-ins at local businesses in Ward 8. In 2024, he pushed for a public inquiry on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT delays, which later opened in 2025.

In 2026, following the shooting at Salsa on St. Clair, Colle urged the federal and provincial government to initiate a crackdown on illegal firearms and make the bail system stricter for those who have gun-related offences.

Platform: Colle’s campaign website says that he will fight against “gun criminals who shoot up our streets, schools, synagogues, and small businesses.” He also says that he would support more policing, specifically demanding RCMP and OPP officers within the ward. Colle also adds that police presence will be used to fight antisemitic attacks.

The Ward 8 candidate also vows to complete the $140 million-worth Lawrence Heights community centre, and to bring back speed cameras in school zones.

Biography: Liz Grade is a real estate broker with Royal LePage Commercial. In 2025, Grade ran for federal office with the Conservative Party in University-Rosedale. She came second out of seven candidates, losing to incumbent Liberal Chrystia Freeland.

On social media, Grade has posted in support of Premier Doug Ford’s removal of the city’s downtown bike lanes, and about the issue of antisemitism in the city.

Platform: On her website, Grade points to safer streets, less traffic and lower costs as her main priorities. Grade says that she wants to hire 1,000 more police officers, and investing in frontline workers and community care. She also wants to expand addiction recovery and treatment centres in the city, while cutting city funding for drug kits. She is opposed to safe consumption sites.

In a post on her Instagram, Grade proposes a two-year tax freeze. She also wants to conduct a full audit on city spending, cut waste and red tape, imposing term limits. In another post, Grade says that she will keep bike lanes off major streets, and wants to fix gridlock along the Allen Road Expressway.

Biography: Domenico Maiolo is the chair of the Dufferin-Wingold Business Improvement Area (BIA) in North York. The association’s website describes Maiolo as a business owner. The BIA claims it successfully lobbied the city for a safer crosswalk at Glengrove Ave and Dufferin Street, and has repainted rusted fire hydrants. On his campaign website, Maiolo says he volunteered for non-profits, food drives and churches.

Platform: Maiolo’s website doesn’t list any concrete priorities, but mentions an “accountable and responsible government”.

Biography: On his website, Jason McDonald says that he’s been a local barber in Ward 8 for 27 years.

Platform: McDonald’s platform consists of four pillars. The first involves cutting city spending on consultants, and banning contractors that repeatedly delay projects. Pillar two involves “exposing” backroom deals by ending tax breaks granted to private golf clubs (as well as other private commercial tax breaks), pushing for a live tracker for construction timelines, and public disclosure of developer and lobbyist meetings. The third pillar is focussed on businesses along Eglinton impacted by the construction of Line 5. McDonald wants to establish an Eglinton Small Business Relief Fund from contractor fines, and reinvest funds into the ward’s streetscapes and parking. Finally, McDonald proposes Vision Zero speed reduction and safety measures around school zones, renter protections, and reinvesting in youth programs, parks and services for seniors. He is opposed to “blanket residential tax surges.”

Biography: Enzo Torrone is a business owner and longtime chair of the Fairbank Village BIA. According to Torrone’s LinkedIn, he is a self-employed mortgage broker.

Platform: On his website, Torrone says that his priorities are affordable homes, better transit and faster commutes, and safe streets.

He proposes expanded community policing initiatives, housing growth that is matched by expansion of resources like schools and city infrastructure, an audit on city finances, and relief for the small businesses affected by Eglinton Crosstown construction delays.

Biography: Daniel Trayes is a former staffer for city councillor Paul Ainslie and a member of the board of directors of the Inner City Family Health Team, a group of health care professionals working with people who are unhoused or have experienced homelessness. He says he was homeless for nearly 20 years from 1997 to 2016.

Trayes has previously run for city council four times. He came last out of 16 candidates in the 2024 by-election for a seat in Don Valley West, getting five votes.

Platform: Trayes said his priorities include more support for people with mental illnesses and addictions, and more affordable housing. In response to a survey, Trayes said Toronto should keep property-tax increases roughly to the rate of inflation, rely on land transfer taxes and development charges for new revenue, and allow more housing in every ward, including those currently made up of single-family homes, but with “proper planning” and “public consultation.”

Biography: Stacey Cline joined the TDSB as a trustee in 2025, winning in a by-election following the resignation of Rachel Chernos Lin. Previously, she spent nearly a dozen years in the TDSB as a teacher, and ran an education consulting company. She is also currently working as the Director of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement to Deputy Mayor Mike Colle.

Platform: Cline’s platform includes advocating for equitable access to programming, increased provincial funding, mental health supports, and parental involvement. She wants to ensure parents have a “meaningful voice” at the board.

Biography: Saherla Osman’s website says she is a psychotherapist (qualifying) and currently a candidate for a master’s in counselling psychology. She has an Ontario College Graduate Certificate in autism and behavioural science. She was previously a member of NDP MPP Faisal Hassan’s York South-Weston Youth Council. She has been endorsed by Hassan. 

Platform: Osman’s platform mentions access to mental health and support services, advocating for reductions in class sizes, individualized student supports, and investing in school repairs and maintenance. She wants to foster safe schools and protect public resources like school lands and facilities. 

Biography: Sarah Smithies most recently worked in a leadership role at Specialty Data Systems, a media software company. She is completing a PhD in Communication and Culture from TMU and York University. She says she has a child and a grandchild in the TDSB, and is running out of concern for the effects of funding cuts on their education.

Platform: Smithies’ platform includes advocating for increased funding to address class sizes and the repair backlog, re-instating the powers of school trustees, and keeping police officers out of schools. She opposes the selling of TDSB land or the closure of schools, and wants to reduce class sizes and expand child care programs.

Biography: Little information is available online about John Vassal. On X, he describes himself as a “political and social activist”. He previously ran to be a TDSB trustee in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication.

Biography: According to his website, Gianfranco Cristiano has worked at GFL Environmental, a waste management company. Cristiano has posted on Instagram thanking Premier Doug Ford and local Progressive Conservatives MPP Michelle Cooper for their support at an annual BBQ in his neighbourhood.

Cristiano previously ran for TCDSB trustee in Ward 5 in 2018, and then in 2022, most recently coming second out of four candidates.

Platform: Cristiano’s platform has three main pillars. The first is to ensure that classrooms have the supplies and programs that teachers need. The second is ensuring there are effective programs to help students struggling in math and English. Finally, Cristiano says that he will “listen, then deliver” on what schools are missing. On Instagram, Cristiano says that he wants parents to know that children are safe and supported.

Biography: Maria Rizzo is the incumbent TCDSB trustee for Ward 5. She was first elected in 2003. During her tenure, Rizzo has been chair and vice chair of the TCDSB and she’s sat on multiple committees, including the student achievement, governance, corporate services, audit, and parent involvement committees.

In 2011, Rizzo was one of seven trustees who voted for the TCDSB’s Equity and Inclusive Education Policy. In later years, as board chair, she supported the TCDSB’s 2018-2021 Equity Action Plan. In 2019, she supported a motion to amend the board’s code of conduct to include gender-inclusive terminology, speficially terms “gender identity” and “gender expression.” In May 2026, she launched a campaign to rally the provincial government to reinstate the board’s weekday international languages program, which was cut starting the current school year. The program offers students lessons during the school day in Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Filipino (as stated on their website), Ukrainian, or Mandarin.

Previously, Rizzo was a North York city councillor, serving two terms starting in 1991.

Rizzo has been endorsed by the Toronto & York Region Labour Council as well as the unions representing Toronto Catholic elementary and secondary school teachers.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication. However, she has posted extensively on Instagram about bringing back the International Languages program.

Geneviève Oger is the incumbent trustee for Conseil scolaire Viamonde Ward 4 – Toronto Ouest. Oger ran unopposed for the Viamonde ward and has therefore been elected by acclamation.

Biography: Oger has served in the role since 2018, when she unseated current Ward 3 candidate Jean-François L’Heureux. She subsequently won the 2022 election by acclamation as a result of running unopposed. She was elected vice-chair of the school board from 2019 to 2021 and chair from 2021 to 2024. In addition to working within Conseil scolaire Viamonde, Oger also works as a bilingual communications manager within Ontario’s Ministry of Francophone Affairs.

Platform: Oger lists her priorities as consulting with parents, and creating inclusive environments for francophone students from any background. She wants to create opportunities for parents to pass down francophone culture to their children.

Biography: Josiane Aboungono is a tenant council member of Toronto Community Housing, representing Champlain Place. Aboungono also says she’s worked as an executive assistant to the parliamentary assistant within the province’s francophone affairs department. Her campaign website also says that she volunteered at Matthew House Toronto, an organization that provides shelter and support to refugee claimants.

Platform: On her website, Aboungono says she wants to strengthen Catholic identity in schools as one of her priorities, alongside hiring French-speaking staff. Aboungono also wants to showcase francophone culture through supporting “cultural, artistic and sports activities in French.” She pledges to be transparent with decision-making, while also listening to the input of staff, parishes, and parents.

Biography: Yelena Nichilo says she’s worked in the financial services sector for over 20 years and has two children attending École élémentaire catholique du Sacré-Cœur. Nichilo is the president of the parent council at her children’s school, where she has advocated for things including transparency from the school board regarding changed design plans for the school’s soccer pitch. In her role at parent council, Nichilo also says she led a parent engagement survey which led to more community events, free snacks for students, more French-language extracurricular programs, and parent communication groups for each classroom.

Platform: If elected, Nichilo says she will prioritize transparency, communication, and consultation with parents. She mentions responsible management of public funds, and meaningful accountability at every level of the school board.

Biography: Angela Ogang is a lawyer who practices in both English and French. She runs her own law firm and her website says she teaches at Université de l’Ontario français. Ogang sits on the steering committee of the National Association of Women and the Law, was the 2025-2026 chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Women Lawyers Forum. She served as the director of communications for the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. Ogang also says she provides legal services for Pro Bono Ontario, Ontario Action Against Violence Against Women, Southwestern Ontario Women’s Network, and the Law Society of Ontario’s mentoring network.

Platform: Ogang says she is running because she wants children to be able to “fully exercise their language rights.” She supports French education as a means to protect the language, but also to promote and transmit francophone culture, and help students develop a francophone identity and a sense of belonging in the community. Ogang promises to put students at the heart of her decisions and create opportunities to genuinely consult parents. She places an emphasis on meeting the needs of diverse francophone families, including if they are new to Canada or have one non-francophone parent.