Kristyn Wong-Tam has an extensive career in investing in Toronto's diverse communities through both the public and private sectors. Their contributions have led to the development and support of improved social planning programs, new affordable housing, innovative economic development programs, community art projects, and investments in diverse, family-friendly neighbourhood planning.

As a tireless community advocate, Kristyn Wong-Tam has championed the expansion of green public spaces, farmers’ markets, community gardens including improvements to parks and ravines. They have led efforts to defend the rights of tenants to obtain affordable and decent standards of rental housing and helped create a neighbourhood association to preserve and protect heritage buildings and historical landscapes in the ward.

In addition to their appointments to numerous city boards and agencies, Kristyn Wong-Tam has served as:

  • Chair of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee, which provides advice to City Council on policy initiatives that will support the elimination of barriers faced by people with disabilities.
  • Chair of the 2SLGBTQ+ Community Advisory Committee, which provides advice to City staff and City Council on identified priority issues to support the elimination of barriers and inequities experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ communities in accessing City of Toronto programs and services.
  • Chair of the Toronto East York Community Council, which, based on geographical area, is responsible for making recommendations and decisions on local planning and development, as well as other neighbourhood matters.
  • Member of the Community Development Recreation Committee, which focus includes social cohesion, with a mandate to monitor and make recommendations to strengthen services to communities and neighbourhoods.
  • Member of the Planning and Housing Committee, which focuses on urban form and housing development, with a mandate to monitor and make recommendations on planning, property standards, growth, and housing development.
  • Member of Toronto Preservation Board, which provides advice to City Council on the designation of heritage properties and conservation districts, and guides the preservation of Toronto's built form.

Kristyn Wong-Tam has a distinguished track record of human rights advocacy and was a co-founder of Asian Canadians For Equal Marriage, and the past president of the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter that successfully lobbied the federal government for the head tax apology and redress.

Prior to being elected to City Council in 2010, Kristyn Wong-Tam was an accomplished entrepreneur and supporter of arts and culture. They have curated art installations for Scotiabank’s Nuit Blanche and is the principal of a Toronto-based contemporary fine art gallery. As a founding member of the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Association, their business advocacy and entrepreneurship focusing on urban economic development, earned them a seat on Mayor David Miller’s Economic Competitiveness Advisory Committee which produced the Agenda for Prosperity in 2008.

Kristyn has served as:

  • Vice-President of The 519 Community Centre, which is dedicated to advocacy for the inclusion of 2SLGBTQ communities.
  • Co-Founder of Asian Canadians For Equal Marriage, which successfully advocated for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada in 2005.
  • President of the Chinese Canadian National Council, Toronto Chapter, which promotes equity, inclusive civic participation and respect for diversity.
  • Founding member of the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area, which instills strong local businesses, and promotes culture and tourism in the neighbourhood.
  • Member of Mayor David Miller’s Economic Competitiveness Advisory Committee, which produced the Agenda for Prosperity in 2008.

Champion for Toronto Centre

  • Kristyn Wong-Tam is a vocal champion for sustainable living and environmental health and plays a vital role in ensuring the vibrancy of our city and its economic and social development.
  • As a tireless community activist, Kristyn has been a strong advocate for the expansion of green public spaces, farmers' markets, and community gardens including improvements to parks and ravines.
  • They have developed innovative partnerships with developers to build new affordable housing and has led efforts to defend the rights of tenants to obtain affordable and decent standards of rental housing.
  • They have worked in partnership with Indigenous leaders and communities to create the world's largest Indigenous Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at 200 Dundas Street East.

Sign a Petition

Save Ontario Place!

THEREFORE WE THE UNDERSIGNED petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to halt any further development plans for Ontario Place, engage in meaningful and transparent public consultations to gather input and ideas for the future of Ontario Place, develop a comprehensive and sustainable plan for the revitalization of Ontario Place that prioritizes environmental sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity, and ensure that any future development of Ontario Place is carried out in a transparent and accountable manner, with proper oversight, public input, and adherence to democratic processes.

 

 

Fix Our Courts!

Ontarians deserve well functioning courts. Everyone should have access to a fair and timely trial.

Support Access to Free Prescription Birth Control

You shouldn’t have to dig into your pocket – birth control is health care.

Protect 2SLGBTQI+ Communities & Drag Artists

To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

Whereas anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate crimes and harassment are increasing across Ontario.

Whereas drag artists have been specifically targeted for intimidation by anti-2SLGBTQI+ extremists.

Whereas drag performance is a liberating and empowering art form that allows diverse communities to see themselves represented and celebrated.

Whereas drag artists, small businesses, and 2SLGTBQI+ communities deserve to feel safe everywhere in Ontario.

Therefore, we the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass the Protecting 2SLGBTQI+ Communities Act so that 2SLGTBQI+ Safety Zones can deter bigoted harassment and an advisory committee can be struck to protect 2SLGTBQI+ Communities from hate crimes.

 

Protect Ontario's People and Economy from Airborne Pandemics

Read the Private Member's Bill here.

To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

Whereas the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads through infectious aerosols that remain suspended in the air after being transmitted by an infected person. 

Whereas Ontario has not implemented adequate safety measures to prevent airborne pandemics despite the experiences of the SARS and COVID-19 pandemics.

Whereas the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers has already provided core recommendations for safer indoor air to the Ontario government. 

Whereas people who are immunocompromised, Indigenous, Black, racialized, disabled, low-income, homeless, living or working in long-term care, frontline workers, migrant workers, and people facing other kinds of marginalization are at the most risk of death and long-term health consequences that result from infection during airborne pandemics. 

Whereas Ontario already has the technology to make indoor air safer using a combination of ventilation, filtration, upper room UV, and air quality testing. 

Whereas the cost of implementing those technologies would be a fraction of the costs that small businesses, everyday Ontarians, and the Ontario government were forced to pay during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Whereas making indoor air safer would substantially reduce the likelihood of Ontario’s education system or small businesses being compelled to lockdown during future pandemics. 

Whereas future airborne pandemics are inevitable.

Therefore, we the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass the Advisory Committee to Protect Ontario’s People and Economy from Airborne Pandemics Act.

Health Care Is Not For Sale

Unlike the Conservatives, the NDP believes you should get health care based on need — not the size of your wallet.

Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones say they’re planning to further privatize health care. This is a generational fight for health care.

Add your name to say NO to selling it off!

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