A Gleneagle Secondary teacher is the second Coquitlam resident to officially declare their candidacy for council.
Today (May 2), Ali Tootian announced to the Tri-City News he plans to run for a council seat in the Oct. 15 local elections.
Tootian said he aims to make "Coquitlam a place for its residents to live the lifestyle they deserve," if elected, by building more indoor entertainment facilities and sporting venues.
In a news release, the Coquitlam resident of 17 years said he wants to continue with housing projects that build social and cultural networks, as well as support senior volunteers who are mentoring youth.
For years, Tootian has helped new Canadians and youth learn about their civic responsibilities and opportunities. At Gleneagle, he coached BC high-school table tennis and the Zone 10 national math contests championships.
"I will promote and speed up the projects that serve the community a healthy, active lifestyle for all age groups," he said.
The chair of the Farhangian Educators Association, a non-profit organization in Coquitlam, Tootian is also a member of the Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership and a director at the CIVIC Association of Iranian Canadians.
Tootian holds a doctoral degree in educational technology and, in 2020, he was nominated as one of the Top 25 immigrants in Canada.
Tootian's announcement for civic office comes a month after Coquitlam resident Matt Djonlic threw his hat in the ring.
His platform can be read at on his campaign website, and he can also be directly contacted by email: atootian@yahoo.com.
