… The disabled senior and great-grandmother would like to see Toronto return to the neighbourly city it was in the 1950s

“…Leslieville resident Diana Maxted filed her paperwork 24 minutes after nominations opened on Jan. 2

… And what if you were elected ?

“I would like to bring Toronto back to the way it was back in the 1950s, when people would talk to their neighbours — people don’t have manners anymore — where people would smile and you’d smile back.

“I’d like to see people get together.

“If you knew there was a family that didn’t have much food, the community would do something like a welcome wagon and put together food and clothing. “

… And how are you going to do that exactly ?

“It will be hard, but with the right leadership I think it’s possible . . . If I was at city hall, there are a lot of things happening there that are not happening properly.

“Like communications.

“There could be a communication department where someone could go in and talk to someone and get help, maybe getting help financially, or help moving or with food.”

Robyn Doolittle | City Hall Reporter
Toronto Star (04/29/2014)

… at least I gave it a good shot to make changes out there

“For Ms. Maxted, running for office is about building a stronger sense of community, which is why most of her campaigning involves meeting people in her neighbourhood and at festivals and events around the city.

“People are anti-social. If you smile at somebody [on the street] they give you the oddest look,” said Ms. Maxted, who would only say she is more than 65 years old.

“I want to bring Toronto back to where it was when I was back growing up in the 1950s and 60s. The environment, the vibes don’t seem to be what they used to be.”

“Having lived in all six of the City of Toronto’s former municipalities, Ms. Maxted says that she would advise any future candidates who are running for mayor to carefully research their proposed changes and stick to a plan that would better the larger community – something that, win or lose, she is hoping to achieve.

“Whatever position I come up in, even if I’m at the bottom of the polls, it doesn’t matter, at least I gave it a good shot to make changes out there,” she said.

Sean Tepper | Reporter
The Globe and Mail (08/29/2014)