CITY HALL 101: Toronto Doesn’t Come With a User Manual — So I Made One
May 26 2025
By now, I’ve lost count of how many times someone has asked me - How did this happen?
The “this” changes—another condo approved, a road closed, a service cut, a consultation that went nowhere.
The deeper question is always the same: - Who’s actually making these decisions?
And how do we stop being surprised by them?
That question stuck with me. So I built something to help answer it.
It’s called City Hall 101 — and it launches on June 15.
I built this course because I’ve been there.
I’ve sat through long meetings, chased answers through different departments, tried to untangle who was accountable—and watched neighbours give up out of sheer exhaustion.
Toronto’s local government is deeply important, but wildly inaccessible.
Most people care a lot about their communities. But our system seems built to keep the average resident on the outside looking in.
So I decided to create the thing I wish had existed when I first got involved—a clear, friendly, accessible guide to how this city works, and how you can work with it, challenge it, and change it.
What is City Hall 101?
It’s a self-paced, 6-module online course that breaks down how decisions are made at Toronto City Hall—without jargon or politics.
Whether you're:
Just starting to pay attention
A community leader or activist who wants to be more effective
Or someone quietly thinking about running in 2026…
This course will help you understand the system—and how to move within it with confidence.
You’ll learn:
How power is structured in Toronto (and why it’s so weird)
What happens between an idea and a final council vote
How the budget works—and doesn’t
How to engage: deputations, public consultations, advocacy that actually moves the needle
You’ll also get:
Weekly videos and practical exercises
A real-time case study of one month at City Hall
A crash course in Toronto's political history
Optional live Q&A sessions with me each month
And updates through the lead-up to the 2026 municipal election
It’s $125, and it opens June 15. You can take it on your own time, in your own way.
Who is this for?
If you’ve ever said:
“How did this get approved?”
“Why don’t they listen to us?”
“I want to do something, I just don’t know how…”
Then this course is for you.
I created City Hall 101 because I believe change happens when people feel equipped—not just passionate. This course is about turning confusion into clarity, and frustration into action.
👉 Ready to learn more or sign up? Click here to enroll.
Have questions? Reply to this email.
Let’s stop letting decisions happen to our communities—and start shaping what happens next.
For more information head to the course information page https://theetobicokevoice.substack.com/p/current-courses-webinars