Spacing Magazine hosted an election watch party at Paupers Pub, located one block away from Bathurst Station in Ward 11 University-Rosedale. The race for the Ward 11 seat is wide open as Dianne Saxe has chosen to run for Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth instead.
TMU student Fynn McNolty said he is supporting former councillor Mike Layton, who is now running again after a short hiatus from politics.
“We want to vote for someone who's going to, you know, make sure that we have the, that we're able to live a life that is of the same quality as the one that our parents, grandparents and the people before them were able to live,” McNolty said.
“Toronto, make sure you’re doing your civic duty. Go out and vote. Even if it's, like, it's a bit late now, but when the next election cycle comes and the one after that, make sure you're doing your civic duty.” McNolty said. “Go out and vote. It's very important that you stay engaged with the issues that are affecting the people around you.”
Sarah Hood, an associate editor for Spacing magazine, said this isn’t her first party.
Hood said she ran for city councillor in 1994, and remembers her own election watch party.
She said she also worked with Layton's late dad, former federal NDP Leader Jack Layton, and went to watch parties with him.
Mike was councillor of Ward 11 University-Rosedale from 2010-2022, and is now running again.
Hood said she’s excited to watch what she expects to be a close mayoral race.
“We might have a slightly different-looking makeup of city council tomorrow morning,” she said.
But Hood said she wouldn’t bet on it.
“I think when people feel unsettled they tend to vote for the familiar. They tend to re-vote for the people that are already in,” she said.
— Compiled by Et Cetera reporters Jo McRae, Celine Cy and Sam Castillo.
