October 24, 2022 - Vote
STEPHANIE SOLTERMANN
For City Council, Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York
Your voice prioritizing:
Affordability, Accessibility & Recovery
My campaign platform focuses on these 3 key categories. For more details, check out my platform.
Why Spadina-Fort York?
Simply put, I am in love with it. The people, the places, the events, the opportunities, there are so many strengths that together we have to work with and build upon.
Growing up, I used to come visit my grandparents home on Ellis Ave in Toronto. Whether I was on route for a visit, or heading to another location, I would see the CN Tower and know that I was “near” Grandma’s house. We would drive along the lakeshore and I would dream of when I was older, moving here so I could rollerblade along those same paths, taking in the beautiful views, and all that Toronto has to offer with excitement.
During high school, I was on my school’s rowing team, and we even had 1 race in Toronto at the Argonaut Rowing Club. I remember being so excited anytime my life brought me here.
While attending Trent University in Peterborough, I would often drive up to Toronto, especially on reading break, to visit my Grandma at Christie Gardens. She loved when I would come to visit and would proudly show me off to all the other residents in the dining hall. I would tell her that one day I was going to move here, and that our visits were helping prepare me for that. She would beam. She too had grown up in a small town, and I think one of our bonds was our mutual love of Toronto. I think for both of us, it represented freedom and opportunities.
I moved to the Spadina-Fort York riding nearly 10 years ago, and this community has made me feel free to be myself. Also, now when friends and family see the CN Tower, they tell me it makes them think of me, which always makes me smile.
I had a pretty cool moment a few weeks before filing my nomination to run for city council. I was out for a walk along the Harbourfront, and in making conversation asked the person I was with about some of their dreams if they won the lottery. I hadn’t considered my own response prior to asking the question. When they asked what I would do, one of the things I mentioned is I would buy a condo instead of rent an apartment, but on the exact same street I currently live on. It struck me, how many people are blessed enough to say that they already live on the exact street they would want to live on if they won the lottery? I would suspect that is a rarity. I have always been so grateful to have accomplished a life dream of living here, and that conversation was a lovely ah-ha moment of gratitude.
Some of the things I enjoy most within this riding are:
Walking, running and rollerblading along the various trails
Concerts at Budweiser Stage
Live sporting events like watching the:
Argos & TFC play at BMO Field
Leafs & Raptors at Scotiabank Arena (the ACC)
Jays at Rogers Centre (Skydome)
Marlies hockey at Coca-Cola Coliseum
TSO at Roy Thompson Hall
Swimming at the beaches of Toronto Island and the local public pools
Visiting the ever growing selection of delicious restaurants able to accommodate gluten free.
I want to build on our strengths while working together to help fix what is needed in our community. I want us all to live in a more affordable, accessible community, with lots of supports to help in our collective recovery.
To learn more about my experience, click here:
To learn more about what I am hoping to advocate for as your next city councillor, check out my platform:
