More than 30 people vie for McConnell council position

Her family’s pick, Mike Creek, and transgender-rights advocate Susan Gapka among candidates

More than 30 Torontonians want to replace the late Councillor Pam McConnell, including an anti-poverty ally and a transgender trailblazer.

On Monday afternoon, shortly before nominations closed, 32 people had put their names forward to seek the appointment to represent Ward 28 Toronto Centre—Rosedale until the Oct. 22, 2018 election.

McConnell, one of Mayor John Tory’s deputy mayors and his lead on anti-poverty initiatives, died July 7 at age 71 after suffering lung problems.

Her family, in a letter emailed to city councillors Monday, strongly urge city councillors to choose Mike Creek as her successor when they gather Nov. 2.

Creek is an outspoken champion of the poor and advocate for welfare reform, and was a neighbour of McConnell’s in the redeveloped Regent Park.

“We have observed Mike’s work on and with different advisory groups, boards and agencies municipally, provincially, federally and internationally,” states the letter signed by McConnell’s husband Jim and daughters Heather Ann and Madelyn.

Susan Gapka, if appointed, would be Toronto’s first trans city council member. She has won local and national awards for her community and political work on issues including LGBTQ rights and Toronto community housing.

Gapka grew up moving around in a military family, leaving Trenton, Ont., for Toronto and living on the streets for about a decade. After finding housing, she got into recovery and started volunteering at non-profits including the Daily Bread Food Bank. She worked in then-councillor Olivia Chow’s office in a student placement.

“We could be a first if they did decide to appoint me as a candidate, the first I think in Canada to have an appointed trans person in public office. But I’m more than that, right?” she said Monday. “We’re more than our identity. I’ve always been a trailblazer so this is another chance.”