By Fred Alvarado
Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

On Wednesday, October 12, 2022, the Community Civic Engagement Collaborative (CCEC), gathered members and partners of the Regent Park, Moss Park, St. James Town and Corktown neighborhoods to present an all-candidates meeting for Toronto Centre Ward 13. The aim of the Community Civic Engagement Collaborative is to encourage and increase civic engagement and voting in the down town east neighbourhoods. The event took place in Regent Park at the Daniel Spectrum Centre in the CSI lounge and featured the following candidates: Caroline Murphy, Chris Moise, Colin Johnson, Dev Ramsumair, Miguel Avila-Velarde and Nicki Ward.  The all-candidates meeting was moderated by Moss Park Coalition representative Kais Azad and Deepika Papneja, a member of the St James Town Resident Council.

The community event, attended by a live in-person audience of over 60 people as well as a live stream audience of 50 people, featured an opportunity for all the candidate’s to introduce themselves and respond to questions from community members stating their positions, thoughts and opinions on the issues that matters to Toronto Centre constituents.

Candidates answered community related questions such as the implementation of a Social Development plan in Moss Park addressing community needs, condo developments coming to Toronto Centre neighborhoods challenging affordable basic housing for lower income residents, youth concerns on actual policing culture in Regent Park, initiatives to tackle unemployment among newcomers,  candidates’ actions to build consensus to oppose the “strong mayor powers” agenda, and the candidate’s plan to face climate change.
 
RPTV was there to provide technical support and report about this important civic event.