Campaign Director, Kristyn Wong-Tam’s Election Campaign, Toronto Centre

The 2018 Toronto municipal election was unlike any other. When Kristyn Wong-Tam asked me to be her Campaign Director in December 2017, the makeup of Toronto’s City Council was 47-wards. As election planning began in 2018, I put together a full campaign strategy and team for what was a campaign in the new Ward 22, which ran along Toronto’s Waterfront. The election period began in May 2018, and we began campaigning.

Kristyn speaking to the crowd at Nathan Phillips Square on the eve of the introduction of Premier Doug Ford’s council-slashing Bill-5. This event reflected our ability to organize and mobilize our allies and the broader community quickly and effectively.

By August 2018, Premier Ford and his government had passed legislation that slashed City Council almost in half, from 47 to 25 seats. Our campaign led the fight against it. Citizens from across the city organized town halls and demonstrations. As part of a court challenge, the organization I co-founded, Women Win TO, was a plaintiff in the case against the government. For three weeks, as we fought in the courts, at the Provincial Legislature and on the streets, we didn’t know where we’d be running, or how many wards there would be. Four weeks before Election Day, the Court of Appeal ruled that the City would have to move forward with a 25-ward election. Despite the chaos, we charged forward.

Responsibilities

Developed full campaign strategy for Toronto Centre, including communications and creative direction, community outreach and engagement, data management, volunteer recruitment, digital strategy, voter contact, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement
Led the campaign team through the most challenging elections in Toronto’s history, adapting to seismic changes with a steady hand and a clear vision; worked with the candidate and core team to develop key campaign messages and candidate story
Directed core team of 12 staff, including 4 directors, all of whom had breakout teams to execute strategic plan despite uncertainty, preparing for two election scenarios and a drastically shortened campaign period
Managed all campaign media coverage, including coordination of press conferences, media statements, press releases and key messages; liaised with journalists and outlets, including coverage on CBC’s the National, Global News, CP24, Toronto Star, CBC News and other news outlets.

Responsibilities (continued)

Oversaw the management of all communications and design materials for the campaign, including the writing and production of print brochures, handouts, signage, digital assets, website design and content, e-blasts, endorsements, photography, videography, fundraising communications, and more.
Created a culture of creativity and positivity through campaign through creative direction, positive politics and values-based leadership; provided on-going mentoring and feedback for my team and addressed conflict and critical issues in a past-paced campaign environment.
Worked with volunteer coordinators in developing our outreach and retention strategies and processes, campaign training tool kit and on-site training processes.
Won decisively, garnering a majority of votes (50.1%) in a race against an incumbent City Councillor and a former Deputy Premier of Ontario.

Kristyn speaking to the crowd at our Former Mayor’s Fundraiser with three former Mayors endorsing. I organized the full event, produced all communications and media relations, and oversaw the fundraising of over $20,000 in one single night.

Together with Kristyn and the core team, we protected our vision of positive politics and created a team culture where we could charge forward in the face of adversity. I lead the team through choppy waters, online harassment, voter confusion, issues management, never wavering from our core values and key principles. I was proud to lead an exceptional team of people and create an environment of respect, creativity, passion and collaboration. We definitely have fun – and get things done!

The dream team, on Election Night, displaying what became our campaign motto, “position of strength.” 50.1% of the vote in a race against a former Deputy Premier.

We went high when so many of our opponents went low. I was committed to being the beacon of light in an otherwise shadowed sea and held true to the conviction that aspirational politics can win in the face of arbitrary and vindictive policies.