Maria has served as a Catholic School Trustee, TCDSB Chair and Vice-Chair, and North York City Councillor. She has spent much of her life in the community she calls home.
Born in Coleman, Alberta, to Italian parents from Reggio Calabria, Maria moved to Toronto as a young child and came to North York at age 10. She still lives in the ward she represents.
Maria grew up on Robert Street, where there was no Catholic school in her neighbourhood, and her family could not afford Catholic high school fees. She attended public school, while faith remained an important part of family life.
As a parent, she served on the parent councils at St. Antoine Daniel Catholic School and Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts.
Before returning to elected office as a school trustee, Maria served on North York Council, including as Budget Chief and Deputy Mayor. Since 2003, she has represented families at the Toronto Catholic District School Board, where she has served as both Chair and Vice-Chair.
Community work has always been part of Maria’s life. She has worked with organizations including the Elizabeth Fry Society and the Catholic Children’s Aid Society, and served as an executive director at several non-profit organizations, including Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. She has also volunteered with women’s, health, child care, youth and community organizations, and served as Vice-President of the National Congress of Italian Canadians.
Maria is especially proud that both North York Community House locations—Ranee Avenue and Bathurst-Finch—are in her ward. She was a founding member of North York Community House. Its early work was made possible in part by a remarkable anonymous $1-million donation arranged through her mentor, then-City Councillor Howard Moscoe.
Maria has led the fight to fly the Pride flag in every Catholic school, hold social media giants accountable, provide universal student nutrition and bring back International Languages in schools. She speaks up for fairness and for people whose voices are too often ignored.
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