Ward 13 candidates split over what to do about disorder in Barbara Hall Park
Candidates for Toronto Centre city council disagree on how to address rising arrest numbers in the Gay Village park, with some calling for enforcement and others pointing to a need for services.
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Public disorder at Barbara Hall Park in Toronto's Gay Village has become a dividing issue in the Ward 13 Toronto Centre race, with three candidates who spoke to The Globe and Mail on October 20 taking different positions on what to do.
Toronto police made 227 arrests in the park as of October 14, 2026, up from 177 in the same period the previous year, according to The Globe and Mail. Charges include assault, theft, and drug trafficking.
Candidates respond
Daniel Tate, founder of the IntegrityTO watchdog group, held a press conference at the park on October 20. He said parks have been "overtaken by crime, disorder and open drug use" and called for enforcement, The Globe and Mail reported.
Curran Stikuts, a former head of advocacy at the 519 community centre next to the park, attributed the situation to provincial cuts to supervised drug-use sites and city encampment closures, which he said sent people into the park. "I don't think that anybody across the political spectrum thinks that it's acceptable for families to step over needles in parks," Stikuts told The Globe and Mail. He said services, not enforcement alone, are the answer.
Chris Moise, the sitting Ward 13 councillor, told The Globe and Mail that the city has already placed day-and-night security guards, health and housing workers, and three daily cleaning crews in the park. He said he is open to bringing forward a fence proposal again if re-elected.
What residents said
The Globe and Mail quoted Vera Tarman, 69, an addiction doctor and park-area resident, who said she wants police enforcement and a fence around the park at night. Ginette Hahn, a park visitor, told the Globe: "It was a joy to come here, but now it's an embarrassment. It's a drug park, that's all it is." Rowan Jetté Knox, who owns a café nearby, said reducing services would be a mistake, adding that what happens in the park reflects people not having their needs met.
The park
Barbara Hall Park is in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood and contains the AIDS Memorial, a trans memorial, a splash pad, a dog run, and is beside the 519 community centre. It is named after a former Toronto mayor.
Voters in Ward 13 Toronto Centre can see all the candidates in their race at /on/toronto-2026/races/councillor/ward-13-toronto-centre. Voting day is October 26, 2026.
Questions this story answers
What is Barbara Hall Park and why is it in the news?
Barbara Hall Park is a park in Toronto's Church-Wellesley neighbourhood, named after a former mayor of Toronto. It contains the AIDS Memorial, a trans memorial, a splash pad, and a dog run, and is next to the 519 community centre. Toronto police made 227 arrests in the park as of October 14, 2026, up from 177 in the same period the previous year, according to The Globe and Mail. Charges include assault, theft, and drug trafficking.
What did Daniel Tate say about the park?
Daniel Tate, a Toronto Centre councillor candidate and founder of the IntegrityTO watchdog group, held a press conference at Barbara Hall Park on October 20 and said parks have been 'overtaken by crime, disorder and open drug use,' according to The Globe and Mail. He called for enforcement.
What did Curran Stikuts say about the park?
Curran Stikuts, a Toronto Centre councillor candidate and former head of advocacy at the 519 community centre, told The Globe and Mail that provincial cuts to supervised drug-use sites and city encampment closures drove people into the park. He said: 'I don't think that anybody across the political spectrum thinks that it's acceptable for families to step over needles in parks,' and said the answer is services, not enforcement alone.
What did incumbent Chris Moise say?
Chris Moise, the sitting Ward 13 councillor, told The Globe and Mail that the city has posted day-and-night security guards, health and housing workers, and three daily cleaning crews in the park. He said he is open to putting a fence proposal forward again if he is re-elected.
What have residents said about the park?
The Globe and Mail quoted several residents. Vera Tarman, 69, an addiction doctor who lives nearby, said she wants police enforcement and a fence around the park at night. Ginette Hahn, a visitor to the park, said: 'It was a joy to come here, but now it's an embarrassment. It's a drug park, that's all it is.' Rowan Jetté Knox, who owns a café near the park, told the Globe that reducing services would be a mistake and that what is happening in the park reflects people not having their needs met.
Is this issue only in Toronto?
The Globe and Mail reported that public disorder has become an election issue in other Canadian cities too. In Winnipeg, where voters also head to the polls this month, an Abacus Data survey found more than two-thirds of residents felt less safe than four years ago. In Oshawa, a months-long police crackdown led to nearly 500 arrests, many related to drugs.
Where can Ward 13 voters find their voting place on October 26?
Voters in Ward 13 Toronto Centre can find their voting place and a full candidate list at the City of Toronto election website. Voting day is October 26, 2026. You can also see all Ward 13 candidates at /on/toronto-2026/races/councillor/ward-13-toronto-centre.
When did voting open and close for Ward 13?
Advance voting in Toronto ran from October 6 to October 11, 2026. Voting day is October 26, 2026. Polls close at 8 pm. The winner will represent Ward 13 Toronto Centre on City Council. If you voted in advance, you do not vote again on October 26. If you have not yet voted, you cast your ballot at your assigned voting place on October 26.
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