Updates

News, interviews, and moments from the campaign trail.

Follow along as Vanessa talks with press, podcasts, and neighbours about the issues that matter most to Parkdale–High Park.

DBE MediaSep 8, 2026

DBE Media Candidate Interview

Vanessa sits down with DBE Media for a candidate interview about her run for Toronto City Councillor in Ward 4, discussing her background and her platform of Affordability, Community & Safety.

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InstagramAug 30, 2026

Canvassing at Dundas West Station

Meeting neighbours and hearing what matters most to them on the TTC. As a lifelong transit rider without a car, Vanessa is committed to investing more in the system Ward 4 relies on every day.

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InstagramAug 26, 2026

Speaking at the Cycle Toronto Town Hall

Vanessa thanks Cycle Toronto for the invite to their Ward 4 community consultation, and makes the case for prioritizing cycling infrastructure and close intergovernmental collaboration to get real results for the ward.

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Cruzing With Phil PodcastAug 17, 2026

Cruzing With Phil Podcast

Vanessa sits down with host Phil Cruze for an in-depth conversation about her path from engineering to founding EngiQueers Canada, and why she's running to bring results-driven leadership to Ward 4.

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InstagramAug 5, 2026

A Documentary on Homelessness, Inspired by Her Father

Vanessa shares the story behind a documentary she's been filming about her father's decade of homelessness — and how that journey shaped her mission to address the systemic failures behind Toronto's housing and homelessness crisis.

View original post →"Doorway Sleeper" — a feature documentary in development by Bonfire Originals
Instagram · @electiontoronto26Jul 28, 2026

Ward 4 Candidate Spotlight

ElectionToronto26 profiles the wide-open race to succeed longtime councillor Gord Perks, highlighting Vanessa among the field of candidates vying to represent Parkdale–High Park.

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InstagramJul 28, 2026

Behind the Tenants Association Fight

Following TorontoToday's coverage of the story, Vanessa shares how forming and unifying a tenants' association across the sixplexes she rents helped win a rent freeze for 2026 — with thanks to Toronto ACORN, Tenants Union Toronto, and Toronto Renters for their support along the way.

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InstagramJul 27, 2026

Campaign Office Launch

Vanessa welcomes volunteers and neighbours to the grand opening of her Ward 4 campaign office on Roncesvalles Avenue, marking the start of the next phase of door-to-door organizing.

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TorontoTodayJul 25, 2026

West-End Tenants Organize to Delay Rent Increases

TorontoToday covers tenants of three Bloor Street West sixplexes forming a tenants' association to fight proposed rent hikes — the kind of grassroots organizing Vanessa has championed throughout the ward.

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The Toronto TokensJul 20, 2026

The Toronto Tokens Podcast

Vanessa joins The Toronto Tokens for a conversation about her path from engineering to city council candidate, and the community organizing shaping her Ward 4 campaign.

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InstagramJul 10, 2026

Speaking Out Against the Southport Tower Approval

Despite 75 letters and a petition signed by over 1,600 neighbours, council approved a 397-unit luxury condo in Swansea with zero affordable units. Vanessa explains why she sees the decision as a failure of the community's voice — and a preview of the fights ahead on Council.

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InstagramJul 9, 2026

PARC Expansion Approved at Community Council

Vanessa congratulates PARC Toronto on the unanimous community council approval of their expanded facility, following her deputation in support highlighting the importance of supportive and affordable housing — delivered just days after sharing the teaser for the documentary about her father's homelessness journey.

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CityNewsJun 17, 2026

CityNews Candidate Interview

CityNews sits down with Vanessa as part of its coverage of one of Toronto's most engaged electorates, ahead of a pivotal fall election for Parkdale–High Park.

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InstagramJun 17, 2026

Public Consultation Open on Billy Bishop Expansion

With a federal public consultation open until July 24th, Vanessa calls on the federal government to intervene and stop the Billy Bishop airport expansion, pointing supporters to an anonymous survey and a letter she's drafted to Transport Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Toronto's 23 Liberal MPs.

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InstagramJun 10, 2026

Rapid Q&A

Vanessa talks about the continuing education — courses in Local Politics & Government and Homelessness in Canadian Society — that helped her transition from engineer to city council candidate, plus a rapid-fire Q&A.

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InstagramJun 5, 2026

Thanking The Roncy Record

Vanessa thanks Jody White of The Roncy Record for the interview featured in the outlet's Ward 4 candidate series.

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The Roncy RecordJun 4, 2026

Ward 4 Candidate Series: Vanessa Raponi

The first in the Roncy Record's series profiling every Ward 4 candidate, covering housing, affordability, homelessness, public safety, Parkside Drive, and the relationship between Toronto and the province.

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InstagramMay 30, 2026

Deputation on the 2440 Dundas St W Development

Vanessa's May 27th deputation at City Hall raised concerns that the 2440 Dundas St W development cuts its three-bedroom units in half — below the City's mandatory 10% requirement — with unit sizes that fall short of the City's Growing Up Guidelines for family-friendly housing.

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InstagramMay 26, 2026

Save Our Waterfront: Contact Your MP

Vanessa urges neighbours to contact their federal MP to oppose the Billy Bishop airport expansion, correcting the record that the project represents a $5 billion investment — about $900 per Toronto resident.

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InstagramMay 22, 2026

Housing & Homelessness Community Consultations

After attending community consultations on rezoning applications from UHN Toronto and PARC Toronto, Vanessa thanks the advocates and frontline organizations behind Dunn House and shares her key takeaways: build more housing, strengthen frontline partnerships, and ensure every part of Toronto helps solve the affordable and supportive housing shortage.

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InstagramMay 9, 2026

Campaign Launch Party at The Wicket

Surrounded by family, friends, and volunteers at The Wicket, Vanessa officially launches her campaign for Toronto City Councillor in Ward 4, sharing the story behind her run and the vision for her platform — and announcing $8,000 raised from individual donors in the campaign's first few days.

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InstagramMay 5, 2026

CBC Toronto Candidate Interview

Vanessa thanks CBC's Ali for the warm welcome into media interviews on the campaign trail, fielding thoughtful questions about her background, campaign plans, and platform of Affordability, Community & Safety for Ward 4.

View original post →CBC News Toronto interviews Vanessa Raponi, candidate for Parkdale-High Park, on candidates signing up for the 2026 municipal election
CBC NewsJul 16, 2021

3M Canada Works to Diversify Access to STEM Education

An earlier CBC profile of Vanessa's work at 3M Canada advancing diversity in STEM — including greater access for Indigenous and LGBTQ2+ communities — a throughline from her engineering career to her platform today.

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