Davenport

Davenport is a densely populated west-end Toronto riding that encompasses the neighbourhoods of Little Portugal, Brockton Village, Bloordale, Dufferin Grove, and the Junction Triangle. It has historically been one of the most ethnically diverse ridings in the province, with deep roots in Portuguese, Italian, and Latin American communities. Marit Stiles won the seat for the NDP in 2018, defeating Liberal incumbent Cristina Martins as part of a broader NDP sweep of downtown Toronto. Heading into 2022, Stiles was seeking re-election in a riding where the NDP had built a commanding advantage, while the Liberals hoped to claw back support in a traditionally competitive area.

Candidates

Marit Stiles (NDP) — Stiles was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and moved to Ontario to attend Carleton University. She worked for the Canadian Policy Research Networks and later served as director of research, public policy, and communications at the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA). She was elected as a Toronto District School Board trustee for Ward 9 in 2014 and served until her election to the legislature in 2018. At Queen’s Park, she served as the Official Opposition’s education critic.

Jerry Levitan (Liberal) — Levitan is a litigation lawyer who has practiced in constitutional and administrative law and served as counsel in several precedent-setting cases. He is also known as the teenager who, in 1969, interviewed John Lennon and Yoko Ono in their Toronto hotel room, an encounter that became the basis of the Oscar-nominated animated short film “I Met the Walrus” and a book published by HarperCollins.

Paul Spence (Progressive Conservative), Karen Stephenson (Green Party), Diti Coutinho (Ontario Party), Mario Bilusic (New Blue Party), Nunzio Venuto (Libertarian), Jack Copple (Communist), Nicholas Alexander (Independent), and Simon Fogel (Independent) also ran in the riding.

Local Issues

Housing affordability and gentrification were the dominant issues in Davenport during the 2018 to 2022 term. The riding’s older working-class neighbourhoods were undergoing rapid transformation, with condominium development and rising rents displacing long-time residents. Many tenants in the riding lived in older apartment buildings with maintenance concerns, and tenant advocacy groups were vocal about the need for stronger rent protections and investment in affordable housing.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit Davenport’s service-sector workers and small businesses hard. Many residents worked in hospitality, retail, and the gig economy, making them particularly vulnerable to lockdowns and income disruption. Community organizations mobilized food banks and mutual aid networks throughout the pandemic. The riding’s diverse immigrant communities, including Portuguese, Latin American, and Filipino residents, raised concerns about language barriers in accessing government pandemic supports.

Public transit and cycling infrastructure were also prominent concerns. Residents called for improved bus service and safer cycling routes along corridors such as Dupont Street and Bloor Street West. The planned redevelopment of rail corridors adjacent to the Junction Triangle neighbourhood raised both transit hopes and concerns about construction impacts on the surrounding community.