Count on Cunningham in Spadina–Fort York — a results-driven executive running for Toronto City Council.
I'm a proud Torontonian — raised in Scarborough and a Trinity Bellwoods resident since 2017. I love this city. I believe in its ambition, its diversity, its creativity, and its potential to become one of the world's truly great cosmopolitan cities.
But that future is not guaranteed. A great city has to work. It has to feel safe. It has to be clean. It has to be livable. It has to support the people who are struggling without abandoning the residents, workers, families, and small businesses who hold neighbourhoods together. That balance has been lost.
Spadina–Fort York is not one thing. It is a ward of dense neighbourhoods, main streets, renters, homeowners, families, seniors, newcomers, schools, parks, nightlife, culture and small businesses. Different neighbourhoods have different pressures. They need leadership that listens carefully, understands tradeoffs, asks better questions, and makes decisions based on evidence — not ideology, inertia, or political fashion.
I've spent my career as a Chief Operating Officer in financial services and technology, managing complex budgets, leading large teams, and delivering outcomes. As a Board Director and volunteer in both the private and non-profit sectors, I've learned that results don't happen by accident — they come from evidence-based decisions, strong oversight, real accountability, and the courage to fix what is not working.
Some candidates offer more promises. I am offering accountability for results.
I am not a career politician. I am a resident, a father, and a results-driven executive who believes public service should be measured by what improves, not by what gets announced.
Toronto needs compassion. It also needs competence. Ward 10 deserves both.
Three priorities. Seven concrete plans. Click any plan to see exactly what Ian will do.
Helping people in crisis, improving mental health response and building safer communities.
Compassion, coordination and results.
Safe neighbourhoods. Appropriate care. Effective response.
Improving housing, transportation and economic opportunity through pragmatic, evidence-based policies.
More housing choices. Stronger tenant protections. A realistic path to home ownership.
Safer cycling & transit. Less congestion. Better mobility for everyone.
A community where businesses can succeed and residents can get ahead.
Delivering reliable city services, responsible spending and measurable results.
Less bureaucracy. More service. Better value for taxpayers.
The City should get the basics right.
Encampments are not a housing strategy. We need to connect people with indoor alternatives, treatment, supportive housing, and dedicated case management while restoring parks and public spaces for everyone.
People struggling with addiction need a path to recovery, not a cycle of crisis. I support a one person, one plan, one dedicated case worker approach that connects people to treatment, housing, and long-term support, paired with zero tolerance for drug dealing on our streets.
I support bike lanes and the important role they play in providing safe transportation options. New bike infrastructure should be planned with a balanced approach that considers cyclists, transit riders, pedestrians, motorists, and local businesses alike.
We need more housing and faster approvals. Toronto should accelerate the creation of affordable homes, rental housing, supportive housing, and family-sized housing while respecting the unique character of Ward 10's neighbourhoods.
Ward 10 hosts many of Toronto's largest festivals and events, but residents should not be trapped by the congestion that comes with them. Better coordination of construction, utility work, transit projects, and event traffic, along with the strategic use of Traffic Agents at key intersections, can help keep people and goods moving efficiently.
Residents are paying more and expecting better results from City Hall. Before asking taxpayers for more money, the City should focus on delivering services efficiently, reducing waste, and ensuring every dollar is spent wisely.
Rules matter only if they're enforced. Whether it's noise, property standards, or park bylaws, residents deserve consistent enforcement and timely responses when legitimate concerns are raised.
Residents should never have to choose between compassionate care and safe communities. I support community policing, expanded crisis response teams, and stronger mental health and addiction supports to address both the root causes of disorder and the day-to-day issues affecting neighbourhood safety.
Residents expect clean streets, parks, and public spaces, and City Hall should deliver them. While City data shows many 311 cleanliness standards are technically being met, the bar is often too low; we need higher service standards and faster cleanups so litter, overflowing bins, and debris don't sit on our streets for days.
If we want people to choose transit over cars, Ward 10 residents need to trust that the TTC will get them where they need to go safely and on time. Modernized transit signal priority, better intersection management, and faster delivery of transit improvements will make transit more reliable, reduce pressure on our roads, and improve mobility for everyone.
Small businesses are the backbone of our neighbourhoods. City Hall should better coordinate construction and major events, reduce unnecessary red tape, and create the conditions for local businesses to succeed.
I support protecting Toronto's waterfront, Islands, parks, and shoreline from airport expansion. Billy Bishop can continue operating within its current footprint, but I oppose jets, runway extensions, lakefill, or any expansion that would come at the expense of these irreplaceable public spaces.
Spadina-Fort York is a neighbourhood where people live, work, and enjoy some of Toronto's most vibrant entertainment districts. Residents deserve a good night's sleep, while local businesses and cultural venues deserve the opportunity to succeed.
The goal should be balance, not conflict. Rather than imposing one-size-fits-all solutions, the City should work with residents, businesses, event organizers, and community groups to identify practical measures that reduce disruption while supporting jobs, tourism, and local economic activity.
Good policymaking starts with bringing people together and finding common ground.
Meet the residents, community voices, and local leaders across the ward supporting Ian for Councillor.
“I've spent years building companies in Toronto, and I know what it looks like when someone can actually get things done. Ian has that. He's practical, he listens, and he cares about everyone in this neighbourhood, not just the people who show up to every meeting. That mix of pragmatism and real care is exactly what we need at City Hall. I'm proud to support him.”See the post on Instagram →
“As a young person who has been living in Ward 10 all my life, I am excited to endorse Ian Cunningham for city councillor. Ian represents the kind of pragmatic leadership Toronto needs at City Hall. Ian is focused on concrete, practical policy solutions, efficient government, and delivering sustainable results for residents. With his experience in the private sector, he brings a critical yet human approach to public service, while also recognizing that City Hall needs to be more accountable, transparent, and responsive. One of the fastest growing wards in Toronto deserves a future where small businesses, families, advocates, youth and longtime residents are safe, valued, and supported.”See the post on Instagram →
“I've known Ian professionally for many years now and always felt he was a thoughtful, principled, and intentional leader. We need more leaders in City Hall who have been real operators. Ian knows how to get complex things done.”See the post on Instagram →
“With everything Ward 10 is facing, we need a councillor who will listen to residents and fight for what matters to them, and I know Ian will.”See the post on Instagram →
“I’ve been friends with Ian for almost 20 years, and I trust him completely. He’s highly principled, a great communicator, and he doesn’t hold back. With his business experience, he knows how to solve problems and make tough decisions. He’s proactive, and he is exactly the type of leader Ward 10 and our city needs.”See the post on Instagram →
“Spadina-Fort York is the gateway to downtown Toronto for those coming for work or entertainment, and a place that’s home to many. It’s unique and I see what local residents see every day: the little things that make the city work aren’t getting better. As the former Chief of Staff to a Deputy Mayor of Toronto, I’ve seen first hand what is needed at City Hall to get things done. That’s why I’m supporting Ian Cunningham, who will be a hands-on, accessible and practical councillor focused on making Spadina Fort York’s unique neighbourhoods work better for the people who live, work and travel through them.”See the post on Instagram →
“Ian is a great leader and an amazing human being who listens carefully to people’s needs and takes real action to deliver results.”See the post on Instagram →
See the post on Instagram →“As a longtime Ward 10 resident, local business owner and someone who still owns property here, I care deeply about this community. Unfortunately, my family ultimately moved away because we no longer felt safe with the growing crime and public safety issues.
But I haven’t given up on the neighbourhood. Ian Cunningham is one of the most intelligent, capable and accomplished business leaders I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. He’s someone who could easily enjoy his success and watch from the sidelines. Instead, he’s choosing to step into the arena and put the leadership, strategic thinking and problem-solving skills that made him so successful in business to work for our community.
That takes character. And it’s exactly the kind of competence, courage and common sense Ward 10 desperately needs to get back on track. Ian has my full endorsement.”
“I spent decades in banking, and that’s where I came to know Ian as a sharp, principled professional. When I retired, I turned that same experience toward helping people in our community who had nowhere else to turn. That work taught me the best leaders pair real expertise with a deep commitment to the people they serve. Ian has both. He’s devoted to Ward 10, and he will be an outstanding councillor.”See the post on Instagram →
Polls are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Look for Ian Cunningham under Councillor, Ward 10 Spadina–Fort York.
Every Toronto resident who is a Canadian citizen, 18 or older, and lives in the ward can vote in this race — renters and homeowners alike.
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