Toronto and Hyderabad

Two Cities, Two Democratic Designs

Y. Babji, Prez, Hyd'bad (GHMC) Chapter, UFeRWAs

On 26 Oct 2026, Toronto went to the polls to elect its Mayor and city Councillors. Yet the polling booth I visited in Dovercourt told a quieter story than the usual image of an election. No crowds, no polling agents, no jostling and no visible tension. Voters arrived, showed the Voter Information Card (they had received by post from the City Clerk), produced their photo identification, marked their ballots electronically and left. Democracy in Toronto often wears a very calm face.

Toronto is divided into 25 wards, each electing one Councillor. The city also elects a Mayor at large. The City had 2,143,771 eligible voters listed for the election and 361 candidates had been certified. 53 for Mayor and 190 for Councillor, besides school-board trustee candidates have contested. Polling stations were open from 10 am to 8 pm with advance voting held from 6th to 11th Oct at 50 locations, two booths in every ward.

The result in Toronto

Olivia Chow (former MP, a Chinese-Canadian and the first woman elected to the position in 2023) was re-elected Mayor of Toronto, defeating Brad Bradford. Several familiar councillors were returned, while other wards chose new representatives.

My address in the western world is Toronto since 2001 and my house is located in Dufferin that falls within the jurisdiction of Davenport (Ward 9). Alejandra Bravo (a Chile refugee settled in Toronto) was re-elected as councillor from this ward.

The absence of a rush at the booth did not mean indifference. It reflected a system in which advance voting, mail ballots and clearly assigned polling places spread voters across time and space. Of course, the voter turnout was only around 40 per cent.

Eligibility and Candidacy

To vote in Toronto, one must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old and either live in Toronto or along with one’s spouse, own or rent property there. A person may vote only once, irrespective of the number of properties owned or rented and must vote in the ward of residence. There are no reserved wards in Toronto. Candidates compete openly for the Mayor’s office or for a ward seat. 

In Hyderabad, by contrast, the electoral system is built around social justice through reservation i.e. seats and offices are reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and women, with the total reservation not exceeding 50 per cent. In GHMC, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are chosen by the elected councillors after the election, rather than being directly elected by voters.

GHMC: A different democratic design

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has historically had 150 wards and even after reorganisation and trifurcation of the City, Hyderabad retains 150 wards, while the other two corporations of Hyderabad City viz CMC & MMC have 76 and 74 wards respectively. 

GHMC elections, for example, are conducted under the supervision of the State Election Commission and campaigning is governed by a Model Code of Conduct. In the recent Telangana urban local body elections, each candidate was permitted campaign expenditure of up to Rs.1.50 lakh, while officials were empowered to seize unexplained cash above Rs.50,000.

This is a sharp contrast with Toronto, where campaign finance is regulated through contribution limits, disclosure requirements and spending rules rather than a fixed rupee-style ceiling. More importantly, Toronto campaigns rely heavily on lawn signs, doorstep canvassing, community meetings, email lists, social media and endorsements. Propaganda is less theatrical; persuasion is more local, issue-based and personalised.

Canvassing and Publicity

In Toronto, a candidate’s visibility often begins at the doorstep. Volunteers distribute flyers, make telephone calls, attend apartment meetings and place small signs on front lawns, with the permission of the owner. No processions, no banners, no hoardings, never loudspeakers, not even megaphones. The tone is usually restrained: housing affordability, public transport, road safety, property taxes, climate resilience and neighbourhood services dominate the conversation.

In GHMC elections, publicity tends to be more visible and immediate with banners, wall posters, processions, public meetings, social-media campaigns and party mobilisation. The intensity of canvassing is often higher, but so too is the risk of money, muscle power and communal or caste-based appeals. The reservation system, however, gives historically excluded communities a guaranteed entry point into local power - a feature absent in Toronto’s system.

What Mayors and Councillors do

Toronto’s Mayor chairs City Council and provides citywide political leadership, but must build majorities among the 25 councillors to pass budgets and policies. Councillors represent their wards, respond to constituents, participate in committee work, approve the city budget and decide on planning, zoning, infrastructure, housing and local services. The City Council operates from Toronto City Hall (pic at the top) located at Queen St (W), Down Town.

In GHMC, the Mayor presides over Council meetings, represents the corporation and chairs the Standing Committee. The Mayor may sanction urgent works up to Rs.50,000 in each case, while the Standing Committee handles larger financial and administrative decisions. Councillors or ward members, raise local problems, move resolutions, participate in budget discussions and act as the democratic link between residents and the municipal administration.

Meetings and accountability

Toronto City Council meets regularly in a structured and transparent setting, with agendas, deputations, committee reports and recorded votes. 

In GHMC, the Corporation must meet at least once every three months, while the Standing Committee meets weekly. Special meetings may be convened on requisition and the Mayor presides over Council proceedings.

The contrast is instructive

TCC election day was quiet because much of the democratic work had already been done through advance polls, mail ballots, candidate debates and months of ward-level campaigning. 

GHMC elections are often more energetic, but they also carry the heavier burden of ensuring fair expenditure, free campaigning and meaningful representation for reserved categories.

Both systems seek the same end i.e. accountable local Govt. Toronto offers procedural calm and individual voter convenience. Hyderabad, whereas, offers constitutional safeguards for social inclusion. A good municipal democracy needs both - orderly elections and assured representation.

Y Babji, Past Secy Genl, PRSI National 

The Canadian Public Relations Society is Canada’s not-for-profit professional association for PR and Communications practitioners. Founded in 1948, it unites professionals engaged in the practice, management and teaching of public relations and strengthens the profession through ethical standards, accreditation, professional development, advocacy and national networking.

CPRS provides Canadian communicators with a shared professional identity. It represents practitioners in govt, business, agencies, health care, education, non-profit organisations and independent practice.

Origins and Development

CPRS originated in 1948 through two early groups of public relations practitioners in Montreal and Toronto. These groups became associated as the Canadian Public Relations Society in 1953 and the Society was incorporated nationally in 1957.

From these beginnings, CPRS grew into a federation of 13 locally run societies based in major cities or organised province-wide.  The Society’s mission is to build a national Public Relations and communications management community through professional development, accreditation and collaboration with thought leaders, commitment to ethics and professional standards, advocacy for the profession and support for members at every career stage.

Local Communities

CPRS National is the federation of 13 member societies across Canada. Its strength thus lies in its local societies (regional chapters) which offer members professional development, networking and opportunities to engage with practitioners in their regions.  These 13 societies/communities are - (1) Vancouver; (2) Vancouver Island; (3) Northern Lights (serving northern British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Yukon); (4) Calgary; (5) Edmonton; (6) Regina; (7) Manitoba; (8) Toronto; (9) Hamilton; (10) Ottawa-Gatineau; (11) Quebec; (12) Nova Scotia and (13) Atlantic Canada.

These societies enable CPRS to remain connected to Canada’s regional realities, including bilingual communication, public-sector practice, Indigenous engagement, local media environments and diverse employment markets.

Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. CPRS Canada likewise has 13 local societies, but these do not correspond one-to-one with Canada’s provincial and territorial boundaries. They have been organized according to membership needs, professional networks and practical convenience.

National Leadership

Jack Lawrence was elected as its first national President in the AGM of 1954 and Anne McInerney is the current President.

CPRS is led by a National Board comprising the National President, Vice President, Secretary,  Treasurer etc elected at the AGM held in September every year.

The Board includes directors from corporate, public-sector, agency, health, energy, research and education backgrounds.

CPRS Toronto Leadership

CPRS Toronto is one of the Society’s most active communities,  on par with Montreal. It operates as a chapter of CPRS, with its own constitution, letters patent and by-laws, while remaining consistent with the philosophy and standards of the national Society.

Toronto’s leadership structure reflects CPRS’s collaborative approach: local boards provide programming, mentoring, awards and professional learning, while remaining part of the national federation.

For CPRS Toronto, the current President is Mark Hunter LaVigne (from October 2026). He was President of this Society, 24 years earlier.

Accreditation and Professional Standards

A defining feature of CPRS is the 'Accredited in Public Relations' (APR) designation. The accreditation process assesses a member’s depth of experience and competence in public relations practice and recognises that achievement through the APR credential.

Candidates must have at least five years of professional experience and complete a three-part examination process, achieving a minimum overall average of 65 per cent. They must also subscribe to the CPRS Code of Professional Standards. Successful candidates may use the APR designation, subject to continued professional currency and national membership.

CPRS also offers the Public Relations Knowledge (PRK) examination and the Fellow of CPRS (FCPRS) recognition for distinguished members.  In February 2026, CPRS announced 25 new Accredited Members, demonstrating the continuing value of accreditation as a mark of professional excellence.

Membership Categories

CPRS membership is structured to support students, early-career professionals, mid-level and senior practitioners and others connected to the communication profession.

Mid-level and senior members receive networking opportunities, professional development and access to a growing global community of public relations and communication management professionals. They may also pursue APR accreditation to strengthen their credibility and demonstrate commitment to high professional standards.

Members also benefit from the Bill Rees Learning Centre, national awards, special awards, student awards and scholarships.  This range of benefits makes CPRS relevant to both emerging communicators and established leaders.

Annual National Conferences 

CPRS holds national conferenes in major cities every year. The recent sequence, after Carona pandemic, is Winnipeg, Manitoba (2022), Whistler, British Columbia (2023), Toronto, Ontario (2024) and Banff, Alberta (2025). This year, it would be in Ottawa, Ontario during the last week of October. 

Awards and Recognition

The CPRS National Awards of Excellence recognise outstanding achievement in public relations and strategic communication across Canada. In 2026, CPRS recognised 95 winners for excellence in communications programmes, projects and organisational performance.

The awards cover media relations, internal and external communication, non-profit communication, corporate social responsibility, issues and crisis management, special events and new product or service launches. Special distinctions include Best in Show, Best Creativity and Innovation and Best Sustainable Development Initiative.

At the local level, CPRS Toronto administers the Achieving Communications Excellence (ACE) Awards, which have recognised Toronto’s public relations community for three decades.  The ACE Awards honour outstanding campaigns, projects and practitioners and also include recognition for graduating students who show academic strength and leadership.

A Model for the Profession

CPRS matters because it sustains the credibility of public relations in Canada. Its combination of ethical standards, accreditation (APR), local societies (chapters), national leadership and awards (ACE) encourages practitioners to combine strategic thinking with accountability and public interest.

Source: CPRS National https://www.cprs.ca & CPRS Toronto https://cprstoronto.com

Toronto - A city within a Park

-- Y Babji 

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the capital of Ontario Province and one of North America’s most diverse urban centres. It lies on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, covers roughly 630 square kilometres and had a population of about 2.79 million in the 2021 census.

Indigenous origins

People have lived in the Toronto area for at least 11,000–12,000 years, long before European colonisation. The name derives from Tkaronto, often translated as “the place in the water where the trees are standing,” referring to fishing weirs in local waterways.

The city stands on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishinaabe peoples, Haudenosaunee and Wendat. In 1787 the British Crown negotiated the original Toronto Purchase with the Mississaugas. It was replaced by the 1805 Toronto Purchase, Treaty 13. The claim was contested until a 2010 settlement between Canada and the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Colonial growth

French traders were active in the area in the 17th and 18th centuries, but British Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe founded the Town of York in 1793. It was renamed and incorporated as Toronto in 1834, became Ontario’s capital in 1867 and grew through successive waves of immigration.

Governance

Toronto is governed by an elected mayor and ward councillors, who together form City Council. The present single-tier city was created in 1998 by amalgamating six former municipalities - Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, York and East York.

People, race and religion

Toronto is exceptionally multicultural. In 2021, 55.7 per cent of residents about 1.54 million people identified as belonging to racialised or visible-minority groups, including large South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American and Southeast Asian communities.

Religious life is equally plural. In 2021, 46.2 per cent identified as Christian (incl 24.2 per cent Catholic), 30.6 per cent as having no religion, 9.6 per cent Muslim, 6.2 per cent Hindu, 3.6 per cent Jewish, 2.3 per cent Buddhist and 0.8 per cent Sikh.

Transport and communication

Toronto’s transit system is central to its identity as a connected, multicultural metropolis. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates the city’s subways, streetcars, buses and Wheel-Trans as its specialised accessible transport service.

The subway is the network’s backbone, with the north–south and east-west two level under-ground urban railway lines. TTC also operates a dozen streetcar routes and about 200 bus routes.  Toronto’s streetcar system is especially distinctive. It is among the largest in the Americas and retains substantial on-street operation, particularly downtown.

TTC services cover approximately 1,200 kilometres of routes, with subway and streetcar service generally running throughout the day except from 2 am to 5 am.  Commuters can pay by tapping a debit or credit card, mobile wallet or PRESTO card.  Beyond the TTC, GO Transit provides regional commuter rail and bus links across the Greater Toronto Area.

Universities and knowledge economy

Toronto is a major centre of higher education and research. The University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), York University, OCAD University, University de Ontario francais and Tyndale University all have locations in the city.

The University of Toronto is a leading research-intensive institution with downtown, Mississauga and Scarborough campuses. Toronto Metropolitan University, is strongly downtown-oriented and known for professional, creative and applied programmes. York University is a major interdisciplinary research university with more than 200 UG and graduate degree programmes.

Education is one of Toronto’s largest employment sectors, with 1,400 educational establishments and related businesses employing more than 100,000 people.  The universities reinforce the city’s strengths in journalism, public relations, film, design, technology, health sciences, law and international business.

Rivers, terrain and forests

Toronto has no mountains. Its terrain is gently rolling land shaped by glacial deposits, river valleys and the Lake Ontario shoreline. Its principal rivers are the Humber in the west, the Don east of downtown and the Rouge in the east, along with Etobicoke Creek and numerous ravines.

Before European settlement, the area was dominated by hardwood and mixed forests, wetlands, marshes and meadows. Today, Toronto’s Natural Heritage System covers nearly 11,000 hectares ie about 17 per cent of the city and includes forests, ravines, wetlands, meadows and the waterfront.

The city has more than ten million trees and roughly 26–28 per cent tree canopy. High Park retains rare remnants of black oak savannah and prairie habitats. It has over 1600 named parks and several unnamed parks. Hence the name, 'a city within a park'.

Wildlife

Toronto’s green spaces support notable biodiversity. The City’s biodiversity strategy records about 400 species of trees, shrubs and vines, over 400 bird species, about 100 fish species and about 40 mammal species. Common animals include white-tailed deer, raccoons, beavers, foxes, coyotes and opossums. The lake, rivers and wetlands support fish, amphibians, waterfowl, herons, and migrating birds along the Atlantic Flyway.

Climate and surrounding agriculture

Toronto has a humid continental climate moderated by Lake Ontario. Warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. January averages about -4.2°C and July about 22.2°C, though summer temperatures can exceed 32°C.

Commercial farming lies mainly in the surrounding Greenbelt and southern Ontario. The region produces corn, soybeans, wheat, vegetables, apples, tender fruits, grapes, mushrooms, maple syrup and livestock products. The Greenbelt protects about two million acres of farmland, forests, wetlands, rivers and lakes. No ban on drugs. Smoking is not prohibited. Personal drinking of alcohol is permitted in parks and parkettes. 

Tourism and landmarks

Toronto offers a compact but varied tourist experience. The CN Tower, near Union Station, remains the city’s defining landmark. Nearby are Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and the waterfront.  The Royal Ontario Museum, accessible from Museum subway station, houses more than 13 million art objects and natural-history specimens.

Other major attractions include the Art Gallery of Ontario, Casa Loma, St. Lawrence Market, the Toronto Zoo and the Toronto Islands, a chain of 15 interconnected islands reached by a short ferry ride from downtown, offering parks, beaches and skyline views.  Distinct neighbourhoods such as Kensington Market, Chinatown, Little Italy, Greektown and Scarborough add culinary, cultural and heritage appeal.

Toronto is about 130 km from Niagara Falls by road, usually taking about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours by car via the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), depending on traffic

Economy and time zone

Toronto is Canada’s financial and commercial capital, home to the Toronto Stock Exchange, major banks, media organisations, universities and corporate headquarters. It is also a leading centre for advertising, public relations, journalism, film, technology and international business.

The city follows Eastern Time: UTC-5 in winter (EST) and UTC-4 during daylight saving (EDT) while the Country, Canada stretches into 6 time zones. For communicators, its Indigenous history, linguistic diversity, transit-connected neighbourhoods, universities and civic-media ecosystem make Toronto a leading case study in inclusive public communication, reputation management and community engagement.

(The author’s house is on Dufferin street at the intersection of Shanly and Dufferin and is in the neighbourhood of Davenport, Toronto, since 2001)