York South—Weston

York South—Weston is a federal riding in Toronto's west end, composed largely of the former City of York, a southwestern section of the old city of North York, and parts of old Toronto north of High Park. The riding is bounded by Highway 401 to the north, the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railway corridors to the east and south, and the Humber River to the west. Its neighbourhoods—Weston, Mount Dennis, Keelesdale-Eglinton West, Rockcliffe-Smythe, and parts of Silverthorn—are among the most culturally diverse in the Greater Toronto Area, with deep roots in successive waves of immigration.

Candidates

Ahmed Hussen (Liberal) — Hussen immigrated to Canada from Somalia at the age of 16 as a refugee. After attending high school in Hamilton, he settled in Toronto in 1997 and earned a BA in History from York University. He later obtained a law degree from the University of Ottawa and was called to the bar in 2012, specializing in immigration and criminal law. He co-founded the Regent Park Community Council and led advocacy efforts that secured a $500-million investment to revitalize Regent Park. First elected in 2015 as the first Somali-Canadian to sit in the House of Commons, he went on to serve as Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. He was seeking his third term.

Sajanth Mohan (Conservative) — Mohan has served the GTA community for over seventeen years as a pastor and community advocate. He has organized toy drives, back-to-school initiatives, cycling events for the Hospital for Sick Children, food hubs for families in need, and sporting camps for children.

Hawa Mire (NDP) — Mire served as Executive Director of the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA) and is a small business owner and community organizer. A writer and commentator featured in Maclean's, Briarpatch Magazine, and CBC, she co-edited MAANDEEQ, a collective publication by young Somali scholars writing about the Somali diaspora.

Sitara Chiu (PPC) — Chiu stood as the People's Party of Canada candidate in York South—Weston.

About the Riding

York South—Weston's character is shaped by its working-class roots and its role as a landing place for immigrant communities over more than a century. The neighbourhood of Weston, once an independent village on the Humber River, grew around industries and railway junctions in the nineteenth century. Mount Dennis developed after Kodak Canada established its factory at Eglinton Avenue and Weston Road during World War I—a complex often called Kodak Heights that employed much of the surrounding community for decades. Workers at Kodak and nearby stockyards built the cottages and small detached homes that still form much of the housing stock.

Today the riding is one of Toronto's most linguistically diverse. English is spoken by 49 percent of residents, with Portuguese (9.8 percent), Spanish (7.2 percent), Italian (4.8 percent), Tagalog (3.2 percent), Vietnamese (3.1 percent), and Somali (2.1 percent) among the most commonly heard languages. The religious landscape is similarly varied: 65.9 percent of residents identify as Christian—with 41.2 percent Catholic, reflecting the large Portuguese and Latin American communities—while 8.7 percent are Muslim and smaller Buddhist and Hindu populations are also present.

The riding faces significant socioeconomic challenges. Poverty rates are above the city average, and many residents work in precarious, low-wage employment. The arrival of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, with several stations planned within the riding's boundaries, has been anticipated as a potential catalyst for economic development and improved transit access. However, concerns about gentrification and displacement have accompanied the project, as longtime residents and small business owners worry about rising property values. Community organizations in Weston and Mount Dennis have been active in advocating for affordable housing, employment supports, and improved access to healthcare and social services.