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CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCILLOR • UNIVERSITY-ROSEDALE

SHOWING UP. LISTENING. TAKING ACTION.

Terri Hawkes has spent decades building community, bringing people together and working to make Toronto better. Now she is running to represent University-Rosedale at City Hall.

Why
I'm Running

This Community Has Been Part Of My Life For Decades. Now I Want To Give Back To It In A Bigger Way.

I first fell in love with this neighbourhood in my twenties, when I shared apartments with roommates in the Annex and Seaton Village. I walked and biked everywhere, discovered the character of each street and learned how much a neighbourhood can shape the way people feel about a city. Years later, I was lucky enough to return with my children. I raised my family here, built friendships here and became involved in the organizations, schools, arts groups and neighbourhood initiatives that make this community strong. University-Rosedale is not simply where I live. It feels like home. I have also seen how quickly daily life can become harder when residents are not heard. Housing costs push people out. Local businesses struggle with rising expenses and unnecessary obstacles. Traffic, unreliable transit and poorly coordinated construction steal time from families. Break-ins, car theft and safety concerns leave people uneasy in their own neighbourhoods. None of these issues exists on its own. They require practical judgment, honest communication and a councillor who stays involved after the meeting ends. Across the ward, I hear a consistent message. Residents want a city that manages growth thoughtfully, protects the character of established neighbourhoods and makes room for people at different stages of life. They want construction coordinated, streets maintained and public spaces treated with care. They want decisions explained before they are imposed, not defended after the fact. Local business owners want a City that understands the pressure they face. Families want parks, schools and routes home to feel safe. People who walk, cycle, take transit or drive want a transportation system designed as one connected network. Seniors and people with mobility challenges want to participate fully in city life without being treated as an afterthought. These are not abstract political questions. They shape whether someone can stay in the neighbourhood they love, whether a shop can keep its doors open and whether a parent feels comfortable letting a child travel independently. Toronto works best when residents can see how decisions are made and trust that their experience matters. I will hold regular community conversations, publish clear updates and make it easier to understand which part of City Hall is responsible for an issue. When a solution requires several departments or levels of government, I will bring them together and keep pushing until there is progress. I want young people to be able to imagine a future here. I want seniors to feel secure and supported. I want local businesses to thrive, parks and trees to flourish and every neighbour to feel heard by the person representing them at City Hall. I am running because caring is not enough. We need a councillor who will listen carefully, make decisions, push for action and follow through.

I'M READY TO SHOW UP, LISTEN, ACT AND GET THINGS DONE.

MY PRIORITIES

Three practical priorities for a livable ward.

Terri's platform focuses on three priorities that shape everyday life in University-Rosedale.

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01

Liveability

Affordability • Business Growth • Green Spaces

A city where people can afford to stay, independent businesses can grow and our parks, trees and public spaces remain central to neighbourhood life.

02

Mobility

Transportation Flow • Transit Access • Smarter Bike Infrastructure

A city where walking, cycling, transit and driving work together safely, efficiently and thoughtfully, with reliable infrastructure and emergency access protected.

03

Safety

Awareness • Strong Communities • City Accountability

Feeling safe at home, on the street and on transit should be a given. Terri will push for useful information, stronger neighbourhood connections, appropriate enforcement and clear City accountability.

HOW I'LL WORK

Community. Collaboration. Communication.

Good government starts with listening, but it cannot stop there. A councillor must understand what's happening on the ground, bring the right people together, move practical solutions forward and tell residents where things stand.

Community

Show up. Listen. Act. Be present in our neighbourhoods and accessible to residents and businesses.

Community

Show up. Listen. Act. Be present in our neighbourhoods and accessible to residents and businesses.

Community

Show up. Listen. Act. Be present in our neighbourhoods and accessible to residents and businesses.

SHOW UP · LISTEN · ACT · FOLLOW THROUGH

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ABOUT TERRI

A neighbour. A community builder. A communicator.

Terri is an Annex resident, mother, community advocate and longtime member of Toronto's creative community. Her work as an actor, screenwriter and producer taught her to listen, communicate clearly, manage competing ideas and deliver under pressure.


Here at home, she has served residents' groups, school boards, grassroots initiatives and arts organizations. Now she wants to bring that experience, energy and determination to City Hall.

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