Iranian Canadian Resident of Coquitlam Explains Why He's Running in the Upcoming Municipal Election

Patrick McCarthy (TCCTV) speaks with Coquitlam candidate to City Council, Ali Tootian.

Ali came to Canada in 1999 and has been raising his family and working in Coquitlam for seventeen years. He teaches at Gleneagle Secondary School. Ali says his family has benefitted from changes in Coquitlam as it became a bigger city. However he notices some things are falling behind, which inspired him to be part of the process. Ali believes the Iranian population is growing in Coquitlam and they need representation to let the City know of their expectations and cultural aspects.

While Ali is happy with the work of previous Councils, he feels Coquitlam is not providing enough entertainment for its residents. Indoor cultural and entertainment opportunities for seniors are especially limited during the winter or rainy weather. The same issue applies to the younger generation. Ali says while the City should establish affordable housing, just providing a house is not enough. He feels Coquitlam residents should not have to travel outside their community to enjoy entertainment opportunities.

Strategic planning, research, and good data collection are key to addressing the fentanyl crisis in Ali’s opinion. Money is only one side of the equation; the other side is effectively spending the money to effectively meet the needs of the people.

Ali feels a resilient City with respect to dealing with floods and fires includes proper adherence to building codes and research to update standards. Research needs to be done to recognize areas which may be subjected to flooding.

An understanding is necessary of the different needs of people coming to Coquitlam according to Ali. They need to be heard and involved in decisions and Ali wants to bring their voice to the City. Being a teacher in Coquitlam and speaking on a day-to-day basis with students and parents has made him aware of the diversity of people and needs. Newcomers who find it difficult to find affordable housing should contact Council.

Ali’s message to Mayor and Council is that they need to bring affordable housing to people. Ali’s believes he can use his experience with educational technology and research to connect Council and citizens. People need to be educated so they understand the role of Council. Developers could be asked to make one story of developments available for events.