Bloor West Village Residents Association

Roughly 225 Parkdale-High Park residents turned out for the BWVRA candidates’ debate — the last candidates’ debate before the election. A question system using randomly-drawn tickets led to a wide variety of question topics ranging from free trade to the current economic crisis to Afghanistan to leadership qualities to GST on education.

Thanks to the many thoughtful and articulate questioners, to the four invited candidates (Conservative, Green, Liberal, NDP), who had the difficult task of conveying complex concepts during the brief 1 minute we allotted for their answers, and to the Christian Heritage Party candidate who deftly attempted to answer nearly all the evening’s questions in his one-minute closing statement.

Thanks as well to the many enthusiastic volunteers who helped us to distribute leaflets and publicize the meeting.

The full slate of candidates for Parkdale High Park is:

Andrew Borkowski (Christian Heritage Party of Canada)
Lorne Gershuny (Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada)
Gerard Kennedy (Liberal Party of Canada)
Peggy Nash (New Democratic Party)
Terry Parker (Marijuana Party)
Robert Rishchynski (Green Party of Canada)
Jilian Saweczko (Conservative Party of Canada)

See Elections Canada if you have any questions about the October 14 election.

Things may be a little strange for the next few minutes.

Edit – all done!

It’s your opportunity to meet and question the candidates for the main parties on the issues that matter to you and your community before October 14th.

Invited candidates confirmed:

Gerard Kennedy (Liberal)
Peggy Nash (NDP)
Robert Rishchynski (Green)
Jilian Saweczko (Conservative)

Wednesday October 8th, 7:30pm
Runnymede United Church
432 Runnymede Rd (between Bloor & Annette Streets)

Hosted by the Bloor West Village Residents Association

Alternative debate: ALL candidates will debate at Swansea Town Hall on Tuesday October 7th, 7:30pm. Location: 95 Lavinia Ave, one block south of Bloor, three blocks west of Runnymede Rd. Presented by the Swansea Area Ratepayers Association.

There’s quite a fun piece in the Globe and Mail on three couples who have moved into the city from the suburbs: Turning their backs on suburbia (it will vanish behind the Globe’s paywall after a week or two, so read now!).

The O’Haras, who gave up their big house, big commute, pool and yard in suburban Caledon, Ont., for a more compact house and lifestyle in Bloor West Village, admit to being astonished by the congeniality of city neighbours compared with those they left behind.

“I thought people in the city would be more into their own thing,” says Mr. O’Hara. “It’s the very opposite to what I thought it would be.”

…

“You buy the lifestyle here,” says Ms. O’Hara. “This neighbourhood has a huge sense of community that we were unable to find in suburbia.”

A big welcome to all the families in the story: the O’Haras; Diana Hatzepetros, David Middleton and family, also in Bloor West Village; and Tom Poldre, Jane Lawton and family in Baby Point.