Liban Hassan runs as candidate for Liberals in the Humber River-Black Creek Riding

BY PAUL JUNOR

First time candidate for the Ontario Liberal Party for the riding of Humber River-Black Creek is poised to make a big difference if elected on Thursday, February 27^th, 2025.

Hassan currently serves as a Trustee for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the largest public-school board in Canada. He was elected in 2022, and his present roles include: Vice-Chair of the Finance and Budget Committee and Chair of the Black Student Achievement Committee. Having an equitable public education is important to Hassan as he is a strong advocate and champion for financial accountability and equitable outcomes for students in the TDSB.

“Liban Hassan aims to make a difference if elected in Humber River-Black Creek.”

He is a dynamic leader in public policy, governance, and project management. He earned a Master of Public Policy, Administration, and Law (MPPAL) as well a Bachelor of Commerce from York University. In addition, he is certified Project Management Professional (PMP). He has worked at all three levels of government: federal, provincial and municipal. He held a variety of roles with the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure, Canada Mortgage, and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Toronto ‘s Housing System. His role at CMHC involved:

• Advancing the National Housing Strategy
• Focusing on Indigenous policy development and fostering community engagement to address critical housing and social challenges

Hassan was born in Somali and represented his country as a professional basketball player. He knows the power of sports to change lives and alter the trajectory of one’s life by the valuable skills that are taught. He knows personally the importance of skills such as: hard work, resilience, time management, self-discipline and a positive work ethic.

Hassan believes in the power of mentorship especially for youth from at-risk and marginalized communities. Many of these youth need positive role models and a caring adult to help them navigate the many: challenges, hurdles, pitfalls and issues that they deal with daily. He has dedicated his life to giving back to his community and to the greater community that he serves. For Liban, the vehicles of sports and the arts are powerful tools that can revolutionize and transform the lives of youth. He is a strong supporter of extracurricular programs and has fought endlessly to ensure that despite the financial challenges that the TDSB face, badly needed programs are available for youth especially in marginalized and at-risk communities.

Laban’s promotional brochure states that he will be fighting for Humber River-Black Creek by:

• Investing in our hospitals and public healthcare
• Building new schools and reducing class sizes
• A real plan to build homes and make life more affordable

His website notes that, “Liban leadership is grounded in action, experience, and a deep commitment to building a better future. He is ready to continue delivering