Maria
AUGIMERI

Maria Augimeri is the former City of Toronto Councillor for Ward 9-York Centre, serving the Downsview community with passion and commitment since her first election as School Trustee in 1982.  She was elected to North York City Council in 1985; Metro Council in 1988, 1991 and 1994 and Toronto Council in 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2010, and 2014.

Councillor Augimeri is Chair of North York Community Council, Chair of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Co-Chair of the Downsview Aerospace Campus Working Group and is the former-Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission.

As a published author, Councillor Augimeri’s passion for the written word was evident in her position as the first Chair of the City’s Language Equity and Literacy Working Group where she presided over the City’s historic Literacy Hearings. The Councillor was successful in building a new public library and computer lab in the Jane and Sheppard area.

Maria Augimeri is an Honours Graduate of English and Anthropology and a former instructor of Social Anthropology at York University. She is the author of three published works on the Italian-Canadian community. Ms. Augimeri’s poetry has also been published in Canada. Some of her books may be found in Toronto public libraries and the libraries of York University.

The Councillor’s commitment to local revitalization measures is evidenced through the many projects flourishing in the Downsview area. Wilson Avenue, in fact, was granted special redevelopment measures and beautification plans and now has the first Business Improvement Area of its kind north of highway 401. Community partnerships have resulted in impressive murals in the Northwood Community Centre and along Wilson Avenue. The planting of trees along Keele St., Jane St., Wilson Ave. and Sheppard Ave. W.; the substantial beautification of City boulevards along these major thoroughfares; the recent establishment of a Business Improvement Area and the enhancement of local parks and parkettes– these strategies all come together to make Downsview an attractive and appealing place to live.

Councillor Augimeri has fought against the Federal Governments attempts to sell it off the Downsview lands to developers for over two decades. In this effort, she established the Set Downsview Free campaign (www.setdownsviewfree.com) which mobilized thousands of community members around the idea that Downsview Park be kept green, and should be returned to the City of Toronto.

Councillor Augimeri operates a Community Service Office where she meets with constituents on a weekly basis. She has held Property Tax Assessment Clinics for local residents and has handled thousands of property tax appeals throughout her three decades in public office. Fairness and equity of property assessment has long been of primary interest to the Councillor, who has served as Vice-Chair of the City’s Assessment and Property Tax Task Force.

Ms. Augimeri was born in Italy and immigrated to Toronto at the age of 2. She is married to former Downsview MPP Odoardo Di Santo. They have two children — Vittoria and William.

Councillor’s Current Committees, Agencies & Boards
North York Community Council, Chair
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Chair
Aerospace Campus Working Group, Chair
Toronto Transit Commission, former Chair
Toronto Parks and Environment Committee
CNEA, Board of Governors