I have been a resident of the Beaches-East York, living near Michael Garron Hospital, for 22 years. My wife and I raised our family here and feel like we chose one of the best parts of the city to live in. I grew up in Scarborough and have lived in Alberta and in Toronto’s west end before coming to live here.

My academic training was in social work (Master’s) and most of my working life has been spent in IT and software development. For the past 18 years I have worked in mobile device security. These may seem like divergent paths but as a result I bring technical knowledge and social insights to my candidacy. Earlier, I worked in the addictions field, landlord-tenant advocacy, and in disability rights advocacy.

I ran in the provincial election in February, where it became clearer than ever that our riding is one where affordability is a major challenge not just in the present but also for the generations that are growing up and entering the work force. Young people need to live in a country that they can afford and are proud of.

In the face of developments in the US, I see this election as the most important one for Canada since the 1988 Free Trade Election. At such a time it is a privilege to run as a candidate in our riding.