Do you ever find yourself heading to your local polling station on election day, only to realize you don’t know that much about your own neighbourhood?
You’re not alone.
Toronto’s municipal election is coming up on Oct. 26, with advance voting open between Oct. 6 and 11 — so we’re here to help you stay informed on what’s happening in your neighbourhood before you cast your ballot for mayor, city councillor and school board trustee.
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Read on for a short overview of Ward 18 Willowdale.
Willowdale is located in North York, south of Steeles Avenue East, North of Highway 401 and between the West Branch of the Don River and Bathurst Street to the west and Bayview Avenue to the east. This ward generally encompasses the neighbourhoods of Newtonbrook West, Newtonbrook East, Willowdale West, East Willowdale, Avondale and Yonge-Doris.
According to the most recent Canadian census, Willowdale’s population is approximately 117, 130
- 48.3% of residents are between the ages of 20 and 49.
- 60.2% of residents are immigrants, primarily of Chinese, Iranian, and South Korean origin — about 15% higher than Toronto’s total immigrant population of 46.6%.
Willowdale’s median annual income is a few thousand dollars below Toronto’s overall average, at $81,000, with 17.2% of residents classified as low-income — those with an average annual household income of under $30,000.
Most homes in this ward are apartment buildings over five storeys, with only 5% of dwellings being semi-detached houses or row houses. Willowdale has a higher percentage of homeowners than the rest of Toronto, with 58% of residents being homeovers versus 42% renters.
Willowdale’s local issues
Some local topics that Willowdale residents are concerned about include: the proposed development of high-rise buildings, like a 45-storey mixed-use building at Yonge Street and Horsham Avenue and a 48-storey rental building on Johnston Avenue; the rerouting of Yonge Street to build five new subway stops along Line 1 for Metrolinx’s Yonge North Subway Extension; clean streets and landscaping infrastructure; and the delayed completion date for the Steeles Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation project over the Don River.
Local developments are mostly related to the construction of new residential dwellings, both high-rise buildings and townhouses or duplexes. There are also several active sewer rehabilitation and road resurfacing projects in the ward.
Ward 18 candidates
Ward 18 is currently represented by Coun. Lily Cheng. First elected as councillor in 2022, she’s running for re-election.
Nicole Daneshvar, David Magazzinich, Hamid Shakeri, Nathan Yusifov and Ardeshir Zarezade are also running for city councillor.
To make your own informed decision on who to vote for, check out The Green Line’s tool to fact check candidates.
Don’t live in Ward 18 but are a Toronto resident? Find your ward on THEGREENLINE.TO, plus: more hyperlocal coverage to keep you in the loop this election cycle.
For information on how and where to vote, check out The Green Line’s explainer on voting in the 2026 Toronto municipal election.
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