The Toronto Observer | Ward 36 Scarborough Southwest Profile by Christina Cheng

Ward 36 Scarborough Southwest

Current councillor:
• Brian Ashton

Candidates:
• Tony Ashdown
• Vicki Breen
• Gary Crawford
• Roman Danilov
• Eddy Gasparotto
• Sean Gladney
• Diane Hogan
• Marvin Macaraig
• Robert McDermott
• Robert Spencer

Ward snapshot

Ward 36 is located in southwestern Scarborough in Toronto’ s east end. It is bounded by Victoria Park Avenue to the west, the CNR tracks to the north, Hill Crescent to the east and Lake Ontario to the south.

The race in Ward 36 is an open one, as longtime councillor Brian Ashton steps down after 26 years. Ten candidates are competing for the seat.

The majority of the 54,530 residents are from diverse backgrounds. The top three countries by origin are: Sri Lanka (9.5 per cent), Caribbean (9.2 per cent), and United Kingdom (9.2 per cent).

According to the City of Toronto, the population of Ward 36 fell between 2001 and 2006 by 5.8 per cent.

Forty-five per cent of the population occupied private dwellings in single-detached houses while 29 per cent were in highrise apartments and the remaining 12 per cent were in low-rise apartments. At the end of 2006, 39 per cent rented.

Issues

The renewed plan to redevelop the Markington Square shopping plaza into highrise condos remains controversial.

Residents have raised concerns about the spectre of installing wind turbines offshore and about the development of the Quarry Lands.

The fate of the proposed Scarborough-Malvern LRT is another top issue.

—Ward snapshot and issues by Christina Cheng