SCRO President's Message - Mayoral Debate & May 2023 Updates
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Mayoral Candidates Debate on Scarborough Issues
University of Toronto Scarborough
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 6:30 PM
Watch it live on CityNews!
Greetings, fellow Scarborough residents.
As I announced last month, SCRO is hosting a debate among the leading mayoral candidates. We are working together with the Scarborough Business Association, Scarborough United Neighbourhoods, Scarborough Civic Action Network, and other Scarborough civic organizations on this important Scarborough-focused initiative. SCRO is pleased that so many Scarborough organizations have come together for this, all part of SCRO’s mission to “connect, promote and renew Scarborough”.
All 350 tickets for the in-person event have now been reserved. However, I have good news.
CityNews, our broadcast partner, will be broadcasting the event live on Channel 100, moderated by veteran journalist Cynthia Mulligan. It will also be live streamed on Tamil One TV, Amazon Prime, and on other streaming platforms.
While the in-person option is now full, we encourage you to register through Eventbrite so we can provide you with any updates as we get closer to debate day: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mayoralty-candidatedebate-tickets-604058002747
Thank you to our sponsors! SCRO thanks the following companies and organizations that have stepped up to sponsor this debate and help us defray the costs involved in bringing this event to you:
- Pumpkin Kart
- Netwyn Place
- Matrix Mortgage Global
- JC’s Banquet & Convention Centre
- Saravanaa Bhavan Indian Vegetarian Restaurants
- Ajith Sabaratnam Insurance and Investments
- SV Media
- Hardy Stevenson and Associates
- Scarborough Civic Action Network
- Scarborough Passport Rotary Club
For further information about the debate, please contact:
- Peter Haggert (289) 387-1535 phaggert@haggertmedia.com
- Dave Hardy (416) 358-9881
Questions, questions, questions …
There are many issues in play in this election. Scarborough residents will have varying points of view regarding the most important issues. Therefore, our debate planning committee surveyed 80 civic organizations and 20 residents associations and received almost 500 suggested questions over Eventbrite. Wow! From this, the committee has prepared questions on a range of topics for CityNews to pose to the candidates. The questions are comprehensive and are framed so as to invite thoughtful responses.
SCRO thanks everyone who contributed to this important piece of debate preparation.
Let’s vote, Scarborough!
In the 2022 election, voter turnout in Scarborough was below the Toronto average. Sadly, this isn’t uncommon. When this happens, Scarborough’s influence on election outcomes is diminished and voters in other parts of Toronto that vote in larger numbers end up making decisions for us.
Let’s increase our voter turnout in this election! In the coming weeks, SCRO and our community partners will be promoting the importance of voting in this election, where the winning margin is likely to be much thinner than in a more typical election. Therefore, every vote counts!
Support Scarborough Health Network at your local LCBO!
On a lighter note … have your tried “Love, Scarborough” beer yet? It’s at my local LCBO. Perhaps it’s at yours, too! 25¢ from each can goes to the SHN Foundation. This may not be not one of SHN’s bigger fundraisers, but it’s a way to demonstrate symbolic support for our hospital and it’s a great conversation starter when you’re meeting up with friends and family this summer. Oh, and it’s pretty good, too!
Larry Whatmore
President
Scarborough Community Renewal Organization
(416) 562-2101
Larry Whatmore, President of SCRO