Councillor John Filion

Ward 18 Willowdale
filion, john, council, councillor

Chief of Staff

Markus O’Brien Fehr
Markus.Obrien-Fehr@toronto.ca
416-395-6452

Senior Advisor – Planning & Social Services

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

Special Assistant – Building, Parks & Facilities

Brian Liberty
Brian.Liberty@toronto.ca
416-395-6412

Constituency Assistant & Office Manager

Sarah Barber
Sarah.Barber@toronto.ca
416-395-6423

Constituency Assistant – Communications

Selina Chignall
Selina.Chignall@toronto.ca
416-338-4818

Constituency Assistant – Transportation & Infrastructure

Ian Hwang
Ian.Hwang2@toronto.ca

Constituency Assistant – Community Outreach

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)