---
title: "Ten of 13 Ward 19 Beaches-East York candidates met residents on October 5"
description: "Beach Metro Community News and the Balmy Beach Residents Association held a candidates' meet-and-greet for Ward 19 on October 5. Ten of the 13 councillor candidates attended. Residents raised flooding, housing, and transit as top concerns."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/news/ward-19-beaches-east-york-forum-october-5"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:10:29.586Z"
---

Ten of the 13 candidates running for city council in Ward 19 Beaches-East York attended a community meet-and-greet on October 5, Beach Metro Community News reported. The event was co-hosted by Beach Metro Community News and the Balmy Beach Residents Association.

The ten candidates who attended were [Nate Erskine-Smith](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/nate-erskine-smith), [James Dann](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/james-dann), [Natalie Johnson](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/natalie-johnson), [Kevin Morrison](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/kevin-morrison), [Karsten Riedel](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/karsten-riedel), [Mohammad Shabani](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/mohammad-shabani), [Adam Smith](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/adam-smith), [Jeff Wahl](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/jeff-wahl), [Devin Wilkins](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/devin-wilkins), and [Jennie Worden](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/jennie-worden). [Syeda Jaana Ali](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/syeda-jaana-ali), [Fatima Ibrahimi](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/fatima-ibrahimi), and [Austin Vieira](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/austin-vieira) were not present.

**Flooding topped the list of resident concerns**

Residents raised flooding as one of the most common complaints in the ward. James Dann said that flooding calls lead the ward's city service complaint volume and named it a top priority for the next councillor. He cited his background in city services as preparation for addressing it. Other concerns residents raised included housing costs, transit reliability, vacant storefronts, property taxes, and communication between city hall and the community.

One attendee told Beach Metro Community News that the challenge will be getting the right people to put the ward's issues first.

**What the candidates said**

Erskine-Smith, a former federal Liberal MP, said residents were asking for faster and more reliable transit and cleaner, greener homes. On housing, he said voters wanted to know how the city would address homelessness while keeping public spaces welcoming for everyone.

Karsten Riedel said he supported improving traffic light timing across the ward and making city transit free for riders aged 25 and under. Mohammad Shabani outlined a proposal for a community investment bank and a plan for a highrise redevelopment zone. Devin Wilkins said he would focus on rent caps and services for people without stable housing.

Natalie Johnson said she wanted to preserve neighbourhood character while also creating a range of new housing options across the ward. Kevin Morrison addressed vacant storefronts and communication gaps between residents and their council representative.

Ward 19 voters can cast a ballot in advance from October 6 to October 11 at City of Toronto voting locations. Election day is October 26, 2026. See all 13 candidates at /on/toronto-2026/races/councillor/ward-19-beaches-east-york.

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