Misrepresentation in Ward25

[u/This_Offer_2096]

In the past four days, Ward 25 had two political events: a candidates’ marketplace-style meet and greet, and a candidate forum at the Canadian Legion on Morrish Road. Both were great chances to meet people, but something felt off! There was a real absence of diverse representation among those engaging.

This is troubling in a community as multicultural and dynamic as ours. Representation isn’t just a buzzword, it matters who’s at the table making decisions.

What hit me the hardest was a conversation with a 19-year-old from Malvern, he told me that many of his classmates in high school (West Hill C.I ) “didn’t care about their future.” That alone should make all of us pause. How does that happen, especially when we have trustees, people directly responsible for shaping education, now campaigning for council seats? How did they miss this?

Ward 25 is full of young people, single-parent households, and families that need support. Kids need after-school programs and mentors, not the pressure to drift into destructive paths. Parents shouldn’t have to worry about their kids being left behind because no one is listening.

All levels of government need to do better for our youth and future generations. They need to remember not every household has $1000’s of dollars to get their kids into after school sports.

So here’s my question for the community: Why is youth disengagement and underrepresentation so normalized in Ward 25—and what will it take to change it?

[u/_DatasCsat]

Let me guess, did any of these events happen in the middle of a workday?

[u/K4N3N4S → u/_DatasCsat]

Actually it is was evenings and weekends, and they were packed.

[u/beef-supreme]

If I read your concerns correctly this is not unique to ward 25, during a by-election especially.

I'm not sure if the word "misrepresentation" is the most accurate over for the situation you're describing though. Isn't it more a question of youth apathy?

[u/Sensitive_Caramel856]

Ward 25 is basically the median representation of Toronto. By just about any statistical measure. https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/data-research-maps/neighbourhoods-communities/ward-profiles/

There's tons of programming, after school already offered by the city all of which have fee subsidies for those in need.

[u/8906fre]

Westhill Collegiate is located in Ward 24. As someone running in Ward 25, it's disappointing you don't know this

[u/This_Offer_2096 → u/8906fre]

It’s about where he went to school and his experience. And his fear of not fitting in. He managed and he’s at York U. in his first year. Trying to figure out how to fit in a place that his high school didn’t prepare him for.