Councillor John Filion

Willowdale
filion, john, council, councillor

Chief of Staff

Markus O’Brien Fehr
Markus.Obrien-Fehr@toronto.ca
416-395-6411

Senior Advisor, Planning and Children’s Services

Catherine LeBlanc-Miller
Catherine.LeBlanc-Miller@toronto.ca
416-395-0346

Senior Advisor, Strategic Initiatives

Carol Kim
Carol.Kim@toronto.ca
416-338-5302

Senior Advisor, Policy & Communications

David Nickle
David.Nickle@toronto.ca
416-338-4818

Constituency Assistant – Office Operations

Ife Amaechi
Ife.Amaechi@toronto.ca 
416-395-6423

Constituency Assistant – Parks & Public Facilities

Nicole Hausman
Nicole.Hausman@toronto.ca
416-338-5189

Constituency Assistant – Transportation & Infrastructure

Mark Strifler
Mark.Strifler3@toronto.ca
416-338-5303

Constituency Assistant – Community Engagement

Jesse James
Jesse.James@toronto.ca
416-338-5298

Prior to being elected to the new City of Toronto Council, John Filion was councillor for Ward 11 in the City of North York from 1991 to 1997. He was first elected to political office in 1982 as a member of the North York Board of Education, on which he served for nine years, including four years (1987-1990) as chairman. Before his election to North York Council, Filion worked as a journalist and book editor. He was born in 1950 and has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from York University.

During his 25 years in municipal politics Councillor Filion is known for involving the community in government decision making. Among his many accomplishments; as a School Board Trustee he established child care in schools; as a North York Councillor he added new parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities; as a Toronto Councillor and Chair of the Board of Health he introduced a restaurant rating system and a ban on smoking in restaurants.

Councillor Filion has held the following positions:

  • Toronto City Councillor
  • North York Councillor
  • Chair, Liaison Committee of Boards of Health in the Toronto Area
  • Chair, Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Substance Abuse Prevention
  • Chair, North York Board of Education
  • Chair, North York Board of Health
  • Chair, North York Environment Committee
  • Chair, North York Parks and Recreation
  • Chair and Member, Toronto Board of Health
  • Chair, Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts Advisory Committee
  • Member, Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee
  • Member, Economic Development Committee
  • Member, Planning and Transportation Committee
  • Member, Toronto Zoo Board of Directors

Councillor Filion believes that cities are collections of neighbourhoods. To maintain and build a strong city, council must focus on the needs of our communities and neighbourhoods. Residents should be involved in a real and meaningful way in all decisions which affect them. In determining all areas of policy for the new city, council should balance city-wide interests with the needs of individual communities.

(Information provided by Councillor for 2014-2018 term of Council)