Toronto’s Adam Giambone

I recently connected with Adam Giambone and arrangng a talk with him about his experiences in public life and the public eye.

Adam Giambrone is a Canadian politician who is currently a Toronto City Councillor, representing the southern of two Davenport wards. Elected at 26, he was the youngest member of the 2003–2006 Toronto council. He is also a former president of the federal New Democratic Party. He is the 2008 recipient of NOW Magazine’s “Best City Politician” award.^[1]

An archeologist by training, Giambrone has participated in excavations in Sudan, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, and Guatemala.^[2] He speaks English, French, and Arabic fluently.^[3] He is of Italian-American ancestry, and his father moved to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War.^[2]

As Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission, Giambrone has led the largest-ever expansion of bus service in Toronto, and seen record transit ridership. Giambrone secured over $8 billion in new funding to build light rail into areas of the city currently not served by rapid transit.^[4] An expansion of two subway lines also forms part of an overall $18 billion long-term expansion plan driven by Giambrone.^[3]

On February 1, 2010 Giambrone announced his candidacy to succeed David Miller as Mayor of Toronto in the 2010 election,^[5] as the leading progressive candidate, showing second place in early polls.^[6][7] Giambrone exited the mayoral race on February 10, 2010 amidst a sex controversy.^[8]