Sylvia Watson
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Watson is a former Canadian
politician
. She was a Toronto City Council
lor for ward 14, part of the riding of Parkdale-High Park from 2003 to 2006 and the candidate for the Liberal Party of Ontario in the 2006 by-election
and in the 2007 general election.
following World War II
. The family settled in Toronto.
She studied at York University
and Osgoode Law School and was called to the bar in 1981. She became corporate counsel for Wellesley Hospital
in 1986. In 1991 she was hired by the City of Toronto where she performed a number of roles including director of litigation and city solicitor.
, Watson ran for city council in (Ward 14), Parkdale–High Park to replace retiring councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski
. Even though she didn't live in the ward, She was known for participating in a affordable housing initiative called the Parkdale Pilot Project. She beat her nearest rival, Ed Zielinski (who was endorsed by Korwin-Kuczynski) by 3,988 votes.
During her three years as councillor she Chaired the Administration Committee, and served as Vice-Chair of the Budget Advisory Committee.
The campaign became contentious when the Liberals issued a press release claiming that NDP rival, United Church minister Cheri DiNovo
had compared the media treatment of Karla Homolka
as "comparable to the persecution of Jesus Christ."
DiNovo won the election by 2,288 votes.
City council election, Ward 14, 2003
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She was a Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council
The Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
lor for ward 14, part of the riding of Parkdale-High Park from 2003 to 2006 and the candidate for the Liberal Party of Ontario in the 2006 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
and in the 2007 general election.
Background
Watson and her family immigrated to Canada when she was a child as displaced person from AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The family settled in Toronto.
She studied at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
and Osgoode Law School and was called to the bar in 1981. She became corporate counsel for Wellesley Hospital
Wellesley Hospital
The Wellesley Hospital was a teaching hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada affiliated with the University of Toronto. It was founded by Dr. Herbert Bruce as a private hospital, but became publicly operated in 1942....
in 1986. In 1991 she was hired by the City of Toronto where she performed a number of roles including director of litigation and city solicitor.
Municipal politics
In 2003Toronto municipal election, 2003
The Toronto municipal election of 2003 was held on November 10, 2003, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to elect the Mayor of Toronto, 44 city councillors, and school board trustees.David Miller was elected mayor ....
, Watson ran for city council in (Ward 14), Parkdale–High Park to replace retiring councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski
Chris Korwin-Kuczynski
Chris Korwin-Kuczynski is a Canadian politician. He served as a councillor in Toronto from 1981 to 2003, and was the city's deputy mayor for a time....
. Even though she didn't live in the ward, She was known for participating in a affordable housing initiative called the Parkdale Pilot Project. She beat her nearest rival, Ed Zielinski (who was endorsed by Korwin-Kuczynski) by 3,988 votes.
During her three years as councillor she Chaired the Administration Committee, and served as Vice-Chair of the Budget Advisory Committee.
By-election, 2006
On June 27, 2006, Watson announced that she would run in a provincial by-election to replace Gerrard Kennedy who was moving on to Federal politics. Watson based her campaign on the Liberal government's record of investing in education and health care but acknowledged that she was in a tight race considering that the provincial riding encompassed only half her former city riding.The campaign became contentious when the Liberals issued a press release claiming that NDP rival, United Church minister Cheri DiNovo
Cheri DiNovo
Cheri DiNovo, MPP, is a Canadian social democratic politician. She is an United Church of Canada minister and previously headed the Emmanuel-Howard Park congregation in Toronto, Ontario. As the New Democratic Party of Ontario candidate in Parkdale–High Park, she was elected to the Legislative...
had compared the media treatment of Karla Homolka
Karla Homolka
Karla Leanne Homolka, also known as Karla Leanne Teale , is a Canadian serial killer. She attracted worldwide media attention when she was convicted of manslaughter following a plea bargain in the 1991 and 1992 rape-murders of two Ontario teenage girls, Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French, as well as...
as "comparable to the persecution of Jesus Christ."
DiNovo won the election by 2,288 votes.
Provincial General Election, 2007
On May 11, 2007, the Liberals nominated Watson to stand again as their candidate in Parkdale—High Park for the 2007 Ontario election. She was again defeated by DiNovo, this time by an increased margin.After politics
As of 2011, Watson is employed as an adjudicator for the provincial Landlord and Tenant Board.Electoral record
City council election, Ward 14, 2003
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Sylvia Watson Sylvia Watson Sylvia Watson is a former Canadian politician. She was a Toronto City Councillor for ward 14, part of the riding of Parkdale-High Park from 2003 to 2006 and the candidate for the Liberal Party of Ontario in the 2006 by-election and in the 2007 general election.-Background:Watson and her family... |
7,441 | 52.51% |
| Ed Zielinski | 3,453 | 24.37% |
| Walter Jarsky | 847 | 5.97% |
| Neil Webster | 782 | 5.51% |
| Steven Aspiotis | 705 | 4.97% |
| David Smaller | 635 | 4.48% |
| Mark Chmielewski | 210 | 1.48% |
| Ed Veri | 95 | 0.67% |