North London: Masonville · Sunningdale · Uplands · western Stoneybrook
Ward 5 is an open seat: sitting councillor Jerry Pribil is not on the City's list, and the field has five candidates: sitting Ward 7 councillor Corrine Rahman, Mary Blake Rose, Abid Raza, Simon Sabeesh Karikkassery, and Charles Spina. Nominations closed August 21, 2026; the City certified the list on August 24. The race is about who manages a north end growing faster than its roads and buses. The redraw shifted the ward's lines east, and Rahman's home now falls inside them.
One candidate carries a prior election record. Corrine Rahman was elected Ward 7 councillor in 2022 with 3,910 votes (54.96%) of four candidates, per the City's certified results — her council record is from that ward, not the newly drawn Ward 5.
The rest of the field, in alphabetical order: Simon Sabeesh Karikkassery, Abid Raza, Mary Blake Rose, and Charles Spina.
Listed alphabetically. Identical treatment for every candidate. That's the deal.
Sent out September 3, 2026. Answers are posted here word for word when they arrive. Anything back within a week goes up September 10.
Elected Ward 7 councillor in 2022: 3,910 votes (54.96%) of four candidates, per the City's certified results.
Received October 2, 2026
What is the one thing you most want to have changed in London by the end of this term? Tell us what a resident would be able to see in 2030 that shows you did it, and what you would be willing to give up to get it.
“I want Londoners to feel their City is finally addressing the issues that matter to them. After knocking on doors across 85% of the ward, I’ve heard consistent concerns about service delivery, traffic, property taxes, construction, growth, downtown safety, and the lack of support for people experiencing homelessness. Some challenges require strong advocacy beyond City Hall, but the things within our control — service delivery, traffic, and taxes — are where I’ll keep pushing solutions. I’ll continue voting to keep property taxes low, look for savings and efficiencies, support cumulative neighbourhood traffic studies, and growth that doesn’t overwhelm our neighbourhoods. By 2030, residents should see real improvements — in their neighbourhoods, on their roads, and throughout our community.”
A councillor is one vote of fifteen, and staff write the reports council votes on. Tell us about a time, in any part of your life, when you needed a decision from people who mostly disagreed with you and got it. Who did you have to bring around, what did you change in your ask, and what did you give up?
“I’ve been known for bringing motions to the table and for pushing for change. I’ve been an active and involved decisionmaker on Ward and City-wide issues. My focus is on practical solutions and I’ve been able to gain consensus through my approach of presenting fact driven information to Council. Headlines from media coverage of my work: City Politician Seeks to Ease Process for Traffic-Calming Requests Politicians Move to Close 'Loophole' After Elmdale Project Sparks Concern How Well Did London Clear Snow This Winter? 2 Councillors Want a Review Group of London Councillors Look to Amend Parking Rules on Residential Streets, New Builds Sprawling Concerns: On London's Edges, How Many Homes is Too Many? 2025 City Budget Update: Police Budget Intact, Grants Cut After Decades, City Politicians Take Over Running London Transit City Council Addresses Hope for London's First New Public High School Since '72”
Name one thing the people you'd represent will ask you for that city council cannot actually decide. Say plainly what you would tell them, who does hold that decision, and what you would do to move it anyway.
“I get asked about healthcare- funding for doctors, hospitals, beds etc. We can advocate for better care for our community through established Council positions but we are not the funder. We raise these issues with the Minister of Health and we maintain frequent communication with local members of Provincial Parliament.”
Pick the issue you most want to be known for. Where do you feel torn on it, and what is the strongest argument against your own position?
“I want to be known for being responsive to residents on the issues that matter to them. Working on the things that improve our experience in the Ward and in our neighbourhoods. The argument against this is that sometimes these are not governance issues, but that is the tension that exists in the Councillor role. You serve the people of London in a governance and service role.”
Point us to one thing you have already done for people in London, before this campaign, that a reader could check and that shows how you would do this job. A web address is welcome.
“I show up, I’m prepared, I listen and I take action. I have a record of service that is visible in this community. You can learn more about my priorities at corrinerahman.ca and about my voting record at: https://opencouncil.xyz/councillors/current/c-rahman”
Received September 25, 2026
What is the one thing you most want to have changed in London by the end of this term? Tell us what a resident would be able to see in 2030 that shows you did it, and what you would be willing to give up to get it.
“The one change I most want to see by 2030 is a safer London, especially in our neighborhoods, parks, and business areas. I want residents to see fewer people living chronically on the streets, more people connected to supportive housing and mental health and addiction services, and public spaces where families and businesses feel safe. To do that, I would be willing to delay or reduce lower priority spending. Council can’t fund everything at once, so I would prioritize safety, housing, and essential services where people see real results.”
A councillor is one vote of fifteen, and staff write the reports council votes on. Tell us about a time, in any part of your life, when you needed a decision from people who mostly disagreed with you and got it. Who did you have to bring around, what did you change in your ask, and what did you give up?
“In my business experience, I’ve often had to work with people who didn’t agree with my original proposal, including suppliers, customers, and partners. I learned that just repeating my position doesn’t solve the problem. What works is listening carefully, narrowing the ask to what matters most, and being willing to compromise on less important pieces. That approach has helped me reach agreements even when we started far apart. I think that same approach is needed on council, where no one gets everything they want, but you can still move forward by finding common ground.”
Name one thing the people you'd represent will ask you for that city council cannot actually decide. Say plainly what you would tell them, who does hold that decision, and what you would do to move it anyway.
“One example is immigration status and work permits. I would tell residents clearly that London City Council can’t issue work permits or change immigration rules. Those decisions are made mostly by the federal government. That doesn’t mean I would just say, that’s not our job and walk away. I would help people connect with the right federal or provincial offices, raise concerns when higher-level decisions are affecting London, and focus locally on what the city can do, like transit, housing, and access to local services.”
Pick the issue you most want to be known for. Where do you feel torn on it, and what is the strongest argument against your own position?
“I want to be known for improving community safety while also addressing homelessness, mental health, and addictions. The difficult part is balancing real compassion for people in crisis with the very real need for safe streets and public spaces. The strongest argument against my own position is that enforcement alone can just push vulnerable people from one place to another without solving the root problem. I take that seriously. That’s why I support a balanced approach: Supportive housing, health services, outreach, and prevention, along with reasonable enforcement when there is violence, theft, or genuine danger.”
Point us to one thing you have already done for people in London, before this campaign, that a reader could check and that shows how you would do this job. A web address is welcome.
“Before this campaign, I was already helping people in the community in practical ways. One recent example was in August 2026, when I helped distribute around 1700 free slices of pizza downtown to people experiencing homelessness and others in need. To me, community service means being present, listening, and helping where you can. That same practical mindset is how I would serve as a councillor.”
Received September 30, 2026
What is the one thing you most want to have changed in London by the end of this term? Tell us what a resident would be able to see in 2030 that shows you did it, and what you would be willing to give up to get it.
“I want North London to have noticeably better transit service than it does now. Honestly, I’m not that worried about being able to point to one new bus route or one route with improved frequency and say, “I did that,” because that’s not really how decisions work on Council. I just want Londoners to be able to get around the city, with or without a car.”
A councillor is one vote of fifteen, and staff write the reports council votes on. Tell us about a time, in any part of your life, when you needed a decision from people who mostly disagreed with you and got it. Who did you have to bring around, what did you change in your ask, and what did you give up?
“I work for Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) Canada, an environmental non-profit that focuses on advocating for evidence-based climate solutions. This means that I often find myself walking into a room to meet with an elected representative who is unlikely to agree with what I am proposing. Through this work, I have learned a lot about finding common ground where that common ground is hard to find. Establishing trust is key. So is listening actively and acknowledging legitimate concerns. Back in 2016, I successfully arranged a meeting on Parliament Hill between the Conservative Environment Caucus and CCL Canada. I did this through numerous conversations with Conservative MPs who did not agree with the policies I was advocating for, but who saw that I was willing to have respectful and productive discussions about how to achieve our common goals.”
Name one thing the people you'd represent will ask you for that city council cannot actually decide. Say plainly what you would tell them, who does hold that decision, and what you would do to move it anyway.
“While I’ve been knocking on doors, many residents have spoken about the importance of access to treatment for individuals struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. I don’t hesitate to say that healthcare is a provincial responsibility, because it is. However, there is a very significant advocacy role that the city can play. Cities across Ontario can make a very strong statement by acting as a united front and advocating for adequate funding for addictions treatment and mental health care from the province. There is also much that we can do as a city to help support individuals experiencing mental illness or substance use disorder, including providing reliable and predictable support to the non-profit organizations providing outreach and front-line services to unhoused individuals.”
Pick the issue you most want to be known for. Where do you feel torn on it, and what is the strongest argument against your own position?
“I want London to get on track to meet the targets set out in our Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP). I feel torn because Londoners are struggling, and climate change can feel abstract, while issues such as being able to afford rent or groceries are very concrete and immediate. We need to address all of the very real challenges that Londoners are facing, and climate change is one of them. We’re already seeing flooding, smoke days, and extreme heat. I think it’s important to remember that addressing one challenge can mean addressing many challenges. Some of the actions in our CEAP involve infrastructure improvements. That’s job creation. Investing in transit and active transportation gives people options for less expensive ways to get around. Building inwards and upwards helps to make more efficient use of property taxes. Elected representatives can and need to work to address all the challenges facing Londoners.”
Point us to one thing you have already done for people in London, before this campaign, that a reader could check and that shows how you would do this job. A web address is welcome.
“I’m proud of the work I’ve done in getting young Londoners involved with the political process. One example is a Community Engaged Learning project I did with a group of Health Sciences students at Western back in 2016. We met with then-MPs Irene Mathyssen and Kate Young as community “lobbyists” (advocates) and they shared their research on the health impacts of climate change with the MPs. Write-ups on the project can be found on the Western Gazette’s website and Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada’s website. (Just a few points of clarification on these two write-ups: I wasn’t married at the time so I had a different last name, I did not write the title of the CCL Canada blog post, and Gen Z didn’t have a widely-used generation nickname yet.) https://westerngazette.ca/news/community-engaged-learning-real-world-opportunities-in-the-classroom/article_0c862bfc-b025-11e6-b941-77c5c17f698e.html https://canada.citizensclimatelobby.org/blog-millennials-lobby-for-climate-action-in-london-on/”
Sent out September 3, 2026. Answers are posted here word for word when they arrive. Anything back within a week goes up September 10.
No endorsements · Same rules for every candidate · Sources linked · Answers published word for word · How we research →
Honestly told: the situation, the numbers, and what to ask the people who want your vote.
Sunningdale Road is a two-lane road through subdivisions built roughly a decade ago, and the area keeps adding rooftops. Two separate projects are now running on it at the same time, which is part of why the disruption feels like it never ends. The Sunningdale and Richmond intersection rebuild continues through the 2026 construction season, with lanes reduced on Richmond Street. Separately, Sunningdale Road West is being widened from Wonderland Road to Villagewalk Boulevard, adding sidewalks and cycling facilities, in phases across 2026 and 2027.
The province committed $18 million to widen Sunningdale Road from two to four lanes and add sidewalks, lighting, and cycling lanes. CBC News ↗
Which road, transit, or sidewalk gap in Ward 5 would you push to fund first, and by when?
The complaint that new north-end subdivisions were built without transit now has a date attached to it, though only a partial answer. The London Transit Commission approved route changes on January 26, 2026 that extend two-way service into the Plane Tree area near Richmond Street and Sunningdale Road, plus Northridge and Ambleside, connecting through to Masonville Place and Western University. Service starts September 6, 2026. It reaches those specific areas, not the whole ward, so streets outside them are still waiting.
Three routes carry the change: 25, 34, and 40. Approved January 26, 2026, in service September 6, 2026. London Transit Commission ↗
Once the September service starts, which Ward 5 streets still have no bus at all, and what would you do for them?
The Uplands neighbourhood at the city's north edge continues to grow through new-home development (for example, Uplands Crossing), pushing the built-up area further north and adding to the same infrastructure squeeze.
Who should pay for the roads and services new north-edge subdivisions need: the developers or existing taxpayers?
The $385-million Renew London capital program (roads, bridges, transit, underground infrastructure) is a citywide initiative that will touch growth-area wards like Ward 5, though no Ward 5-specific project list was found in this research pass.
$385 million citywide; no Ward 5-specific project list confirmed.
Which Renew London projects inside Ward 5 would you fight to keep on schedule?
With the incumbent not running and boundaries redrawn, Ward 5 voters are choosing a councillor for a ward whose exact makeup (which streets, which prior-ward neighbours) is new to everyone, including the candidate with council experience.
Which part of the new Ward 5 do you know least, and what will you do about that before October?
A 2026 CBC London reader survey found homelessness, open drug use, and road infrastructure as the top issues driving voter concern citywide, with affordability, crime, and transit also ranking high. These were not reported ward-by-ward, so how acutely they register in Ward 5 specifically is not confirmed.
Survey results were citywide, not broken out for Ward 5; commentary suggested concern is most acute downtown and in Old East Village. CBC News ↗
Which of the big three do you hear most at Ward 5 doors, and what would you actually vote for on it?
The ballot is one tool, not the only one. Between elections, the people who show up are the ones who get heard, and you can start today, not next fall.
None of it waits four years. The people already in the room are the ones who asked to be.
Only one is on your ballot; which depends on your school-support designation. The guide above explains.
You’ve read the ward. Ward races here can come down to a few hundred ballots, sometimes fewer. In a race that close, your vote is one of the ones that decides it. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to show up, informed.
You’ll need ID with your name and address. Full voting guide: where, what to bring, who can vote →