NDP’s Bell beats Liberal trustee in new riding
The NDP took the lead Thursday evening and won the hotly contested rising of UniversityRosedale, with Jessica Bell leading Liberal Jo- Ann Davis in early returns.
Community activist Jessica Bell seemed likely at press time to fend off challenges from Davis vv and Progressive Conserva- tive Gillian Smith in the newly created riding described as “very diverse and eclectic” by Davis. With one- third of polls reporting, Bell had about 47 per cent of the vote.
Created in 2015 from portions of Trinity- Spadina and Toronto Centre- Rosedale, UniversityRosedale RR has an estimated pop- ulation of 104,311. Among the neighbourhoods making up the riding: Little Italy, a portion of Little Portugal, Kensington Market, the University of Toronto main campus and more well- ww heeled communities such as The Annex, Yorkville, Moore Park and Rosedale. The Queen’s Park Legislature building is also located within the riding.
In a riding where 56 per cent are renters, affordable housing is seen as a big issue. The large student population also makes the affordability of higher education an important issue.
Davis, a Toronto District Catholic School Board trustee for the past eight years — including stints as chair and vicechair — gave the Liberals a recognized name.
Both parts of the old riding were represented by Liberal MPPs: Trinity- Spadina’s Han Dong, who ran this time in the adjacent riding of Spadina- Fort York, YY and former Liberal cabi- net minister Glen Murray, who resigned last year.
Bell, endorsed by local Toronto Councillor Joe Cressy and actor/ director Sarah Polley, is founding executive director of TTCriders, an advocacy group for public transit.
Bell was once arrested for protesting mercury contamination of the Grassy Narrows First Nations reserve in northwestern Ontario.
Smith, the former chief marketing officer at the Toronto Board of Trade, is executive director for the Institute for Canadian Citizenship — founded by Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston RR Saul — which promotes active citizen participation.
Tim Bell, founder of Green Teacher TT magazine and former chair of the Harbord Village Residents’ RR Association, ran on behalf of the Green Party.