Audience plays a role in Thursday Mayoral Candidates' Forum

TORONTO, Sept. 29 /CNW/ - Rob Ford, Joe Pantelone, Rocco Rossi and George Smitherman, will all be on stage for the Toronto Community News Mayoral Candidates' Forum.

Toronto mayoral candidates are jockeying for attention and standing in this fast-shifting campaign. This forum put the key candidates directly in front of the public, who have an opportunity to ask candidates directly about the issues.

The two-hour forum, on Thursday, Sept. 30, will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at On The Park Events and Conference Centre, 1095 Leslie St., near Eglinton Avenue.

"The events of the past few days have opened up a number of new possibilities in the mayoral race," said Toronto Community News Editor-in-Chief Peter Haggert. "We look forward to seeing how candidates position themselves in this critical phase of the campaign."

The first half of the forum will feature opening statements from candidates and questions from a panel of Toronto Community News editors. The second half will feature questions from the audience.

"This is unscripted and candidates will not see questions in advance," said Haggert.

The forum will be moderated by author, journalist and college instructor Ted Barris.

The forum is just one election initiative hosted by Toronto Community News, operators of nine community newspapers, other publications and websites in Toronto.

"We're encouraging people to visit our www.insidetorontovotes.ca website as well," said Haggert. "It's an accumulation of stories and videos from our election coverage that we hope will give people insight and background when considering who to vote for in the Oct. 25 municipal elections."

Toronto Community News has arranged for free bus services from three locations to get to the forum.

* Bloor West Village - Beresford Avenue, north of Bloor Street West near McCullens Park at loading 6:15 p.m.;

* East York from Pape and Danforth avenues, Scotiabank on the southeast corner at loading 6:30 p.m.;

* Scarborough - from the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus at loading 6:15 p.m.

To register to ride or or more information on buses, please call 416-774-2385.

Toronto Community News (TCN) is a division of Metroland Media Group Ltd.

For further information: Peter Haggert, Editor in Chief, Toronto Community News, (office) 416-774-2332, (cell) 416-726-1794, [email protected]; Site technical information: Kim Heroux, On the Park Events and Conference Centre, 416-380-3451