10 Minutes

My name is Coralia Tudor, and I’m running to represent Ward 8 because I believe our community deserves a councillor who listens, who shows up, and who works every single day to make life better for the people who call this ward home.

I’ve dedicated my life to serving others — whether it’s coaching soccer, guiding a scout group, or touring children through museums to teach them about history, art, and culture. I’ve supported those in need by making meals for shelters, handing out food bank bags, and offering small gestures of kindness to people on the street. I also sit on boards of non‑profits and local school councils because I believe that’s how we build a stronger, more connected community.

My journey began when my family came to Canada and faced poverty and struggle. I worked my way through university, earning a degree in Political Science, hoping to change the world — and I did, in my own way, as a teacher helping youth discover their potential. Later, I became a paralegal to continue helping people navigate challenges. Through every chapter of my life, one thing has remained constant: my commitment to stand up for what’s right and to champion knowledge, advocacy, and compassion.

London is a city full of potential — but potential only matters when we turn it into progress. My vision for Ward 8 and for London is rooted in community, transparency, responsible growth, and protecting what makes our city special.  I bring with me a wealth of expertise, from  a background in Political science and Law, to both business and social service sector work. Together, we can build a city that works for everyone — because the heart of every city is its people.

Ward 8 is diverse, vibrant, and full of families, seniors, students, and long‑time residents who care deeply about where they live. Yet too often, we feel disconnected from one another and from decisions at City Hall.

That’s why I’m committed to strengthening community connections — hosting quarterly neighbourhood events, regular community meetings, and publishing a monthly newsletter so everyone stays informed and engaged.

Transparency isn’t optional; it’s our responsibility and part of being accountable.

London is growing, and Ward 8 is feeling that growth. But growth must be responsible, balanced, fair and respect existing neighbourhoods.

I will work with developers to ensure we build affordable and attainable housing across the city — not just luxury units, not just high‑end projects, but homes that real families can afford.

Every new development should include at least 20% affordable homes or units — that means rent under $900 for a one‑bedroom, $1,200 for a two‑bedroom, and homes priced under $330,000.

Currently the concern for our neighbourhood is the future developments that will begin in the near future on Oxford St. This includes homes backing onto Sifton Bog. We have to decide as a community what we want there. Do we want 10 story buildings with surface parking lots that encroach into the Bog? Because that is what this current council allowed to happen in Westminster. 

My housing plan is about smart urban design and respectful infilling. We can use commercial areas to create “smart villages”: walkable, connected communities where housing, shops, green space, and transit come together. These mixed‑use neighbourhoods reduce sprawl, lower infrastructure costs, and make life more affordable for everyone.

By partnering with responsible developers and prioritizing affordability, we can make London a city where everyone — from students to seniors — has a place to call home. This means evaluating and tightening up our policies and guidelines in addition to building incentives that are mutually beneficial. 

London’s housing and homelessness challenges demand compassion and structure. My plan connects housing affordability with a two‑tier homelessness strategy designed to meet people where they are.

• Tier One is a low‑barrier, temperature‑controlled shelter for individuals not yet ready for structured programs. It provides dignity and safety — with access to food, water, bathrooms, showers, laundry, health care, mental‑health support, harm‑reduction services, and secure storage. People can set up their own space indoors, keep their pets, and find stability without being forced to move daily.
• Tier Two is a rehabilitation‑focused shelter for those ready to rebuild their lives. It offers treatment for mental health and addiction, life‑skills training like budgeting and cooking, job‑readiness support, and help obtaining ID, banking, and benefits. It includes assisted housing and continued case management to ensure lasting independence.

This approach reduces encampments, improves safety, and creates real pathways to stability. It’s a made‑for‑London solution — humane, structured, and efficient.

Most of all we need to recognize that a major contributor to Homelessness is the high cost of housing. When your ODSP, CPP, EI or OW is only $1200 or $1700 per month how can you ask someone to be able to pay for their rent when the average rent in this city is over $2000 per month for a 2 bedroom apartment. Council needs to address this now, or more people will end up on the streets. 

Furthermore, we need more preventative programs, the easiest way to keep people off our streets is to make sure they don’t end up there to begin with.

Every dollar of your property taxes matters. I will work closely with city staff, council colleagues, and the Mayor to ensure your tax dollars are used responsibly and effectively, working to keep rises no greater than inflation.

But fiscal responsibility isn’t just about budgets — it’s about people. Seniors, low‑income residents, and those who have lost their jobs are carrying the heaviest burden. I will advocate to reduce the financial strain on those most vulnerable, ensuring that our city’s financial decisions reflect compassion as well as efficiency. This includes tax deferrals for low income seniors and temporary deferrals for those who are unemployed, so that people don’t have to choose between a roof over their heads and feeding their family. 

Furthermore, I will conduct department audits to find wasted tax dollars and put an end to those practices. We need to do things once and do them right. Contracts need to be clear and pricing should be transparent and final. You wouldn’t buy a car or fix your roof and not know the final price, so why doesn’t the city operate the same way.

London is known as The Forest City, and that identity is worth protecting. Our parks, natural spaces and river are not luxuries — they are essential to our quality of life. 

London is facing real environmental challenges, and we need leadership that turns commitments into action. I’m focused on practical, measurable solutions: expanding recycling and compost programs, improving transit and bike infrastructure, protecting forests and waterways, and promoting smart, sustainable development. I’ll push for greener buildings, better water management, and stronger air‑quality protections. And I’ll ensure accountability by engaging students, residents, the indigenous community and experts in monitoring our progress. 

I will ensure that new communities include parks and greenspace, and I will support environmental initiatives that enhance our natural areas, improve water conservation, and strengthen ecological protection from development.

A healthy environment is a legacy we owe to future generations.

Music, art and culture feeds our soul, allows us creative expression and teaches us about each other's heritage and traditions. It is one of London’s greatest strengths. It enriches our lives, supports local talent, and builds community pride.  We need to continue investing in this area and capitalize on our designation as a UNESCO city of music. We need to fix our concert halls, as part of our downtown investment. We can become the Nashville of Canada, by encouraging record labels and artists to come to London, and continuing to expand our tourism.

A thriving city needs a thriving downtown. But today, our downtown faces challenges: vacancies, neglected properties, homelessness, drug use, and crime.

We cannot ignore these issues — we must address them head‑on.

London’s downtown doesn’t need another round of cosmetic fixes — it needs City Hall to finally remove the barriers that keep storefronts empty and buildings under‑used. We can pave streets, add decorative features, and host photo‑ops, but none of that solves the real problem: businesses can’t open, expand, or invest because the system is working against them.

My approach is simple: stop treating symptoms and start fixing the root causes. That means clearing the regulatory obstacles that stall redevelopment, modernizing outdated processes that slow down permits, and unlocking the potential of under‑used buildings so they can become homes for new businesses, new housing, and new opportunities.

I will hold landowners accountable and push to end investment practices that degrade our city. Whether that is via a vacancy tax, legal means or through incentives and partnerships. 

I will work with community partners in our social services sector to create a rehabilitation‑focused shelter model that supports people experiencing homelessness with dignity and real pathways to stability.

And I will support initiatives that reduce crime and address drug use through prevention, treatment, and community‑based solutions. 

Not special interests. Not developers. Not political agendas.

Your voice.

I am running a self‑funded campaign because I believe in objectivity, integrity, and accountability. My commitment is to you — the residents of Ward 8, — and to building a city we can all be proud of.