Biography

Since 1982, Pam McConnell has served the residents in downtown Toronto, first as a school trustee for 12 years and currently as the City Councillor for Ward 28, Toronto-Centre Rosedale. Pam has focussed her public service on working to create a healthy and safe city for all Torontonians.

Now in her fifth term as a City Councillor, Pam McConnell is a member of the Executive Committee, which is responsible for setting the priorities for Council. In addition, she is Chair of the Toronto and East York Community Council, a member of the Government Management Committee, and is Vice-Chair of the Police Services Board, the Employee and Labour Relations Committee, and the Affordable Housing Committee. Pam is also on the Board of Directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and chairs FCM’s Standing Committee on Increasing Women’s Participation in Municipal Government.

As a City Councillor, Pam continues to oversee the redevelopment of Regent Park, is working with local residents and Waterfront Toronto on the development of the West Don Lands and East Bayfront neighbourhood, and is leading community members on improving the St. Lawrence Market Precinct. She has played a key role in bringing the First Parliament Site into public hands and continues to support local residents in the fight to close the Island Airport. In 2005, Pam celebrated the opening of the Wellesley Community Centre, the first community centre built in Toronto since amalgamation in 1998.

Some of Pam’s initial work as a Councillor centred around children. As a member of the Children and Youth Action Committee, she led the campaign against user fees in City recreation centres and developed the Children’s Report Card.

As Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board from 2004 to 2005, and now as Vice-Chair, Pam has worked to address racial profiling in the Service, challenging the police complaints system to ensure independent civilian oversight, and bringing community policing back to the City’s neighbourhoods.

In her time as school trustee, and as Chair of the Toronto Board of Education in 1992, Pam was well known as an advocate for children living in poverty. Her accomplishments during that time include helping to found Parents for Better Beginnings in Regent Park, the Brighter Futures – St. James Town health project, and the Student Nutrition Coalition, which began the breakfast and lunch programs in Toronto schools. In 1997, she received an award from the Duke of Edinburgh for her work with inner city youth.

Pam lives in Cabbagetown with her family.

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Council Committees and Appointments

• Executive Committee
• Government Management Committee
• Toronto and East York Community Council (Chair)
• Affordable Housing Committee (Vice-Chair)
• Employee and Labour Relations Committee (Vice-Chair)
• Toronto Police Services Board (Vice-chair)

Federation of Canadian Municipalities

• National Board of Directors
• Standing Committee on Increasing Women’s Participation in Municipal Government (Chair)

Community Agencies and Appointments

• 70 Berkeley Street Community Centre, Board of Management
• 192 Carlton Street (Second Mile Club), Board of Management
• Canadian Stage Company, Board of Directors
• Lorraine Kisma Young People’s Theatre, Board of Directors
• St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Board of Management
• Toronto Arts Council
• Town of York Historical Society
• Task Force to Bring Back the Don
• Union Station Revitalization Public Advisory Group
• Young Ambassadors Selection Committee for Learnx Foundation

Business Improvement Areas

• Old Cabbagetown BIA, Board of Management
• Queens Quay Harbourfront BIA , Board of Management
• St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood BIA, Board of Management
• Toronto Entertainment District BIA, Board of Management