Ariel Troster

Ariel Troster
Ottawa City Councillor
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 15, 2022[1]
Preceded byCatherine McKenney
ConstituencySomerset Ward
Personal details
Born1979 (age 44–45)
Toronto
NationalityCanadian
SpouseCaitlyn Pascal[2]
Alma materUniversity of Ottawa
Concordia University

Ariel Troster (born 1979) is a politician in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She is the city councillor for Somerset Ward on Ottawa City Council.

Background

Troster was born in Toronto, the daughter of former Toronto Star finance writer Sheryl Smolkin and Joel Troster. She has a bachelor's degrees in journalism and history from Concordia University and a master's degree in women's studies from the University of Ottawa.

Prior to being elected, Troster worked for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Public Service Alliance of Canada, and The Council of Canadians.[3] She was a writer and columnist for Xtra Magazine from 2005 to 2009 and sat on the board of various LGBTQ organizations including Egale Canada, the Ten Oaks Project and the Ottawa Dyke March.[4] She is Jewish.[5]

Political career

Troster was elected in the 2022 Ottawa municipal election. She was endorsed by outgoing councillor and mayoral candidate Catherine McKenney.[6] Troster is the second consecutive LGBT councillor to represent Somerset Ward.

Throughout her campaign and subsequent term on city council, Troster has placed emphasis on homelessness,[7][8] community safety,[9] and expanding pedestrian infrastructure.[10][11]

In 2023/2024, she opposed the proposal for the City of Ottawa to spend over $400 million to subsidize the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park.[12] Ultimately, city council voted 16-9 in favour of the project, with mayor Mark Sutcliffe voting yes.[13][14] She also opposed cuts to O-Train frequency that were passed by city council in 2024.[15][16]

Electoral record

2022 Ottawa municipal election: Somerset Ward
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Ariel Troster 8,669 61.28 – $30,781.77
Stuart MacKay 4,706 33.29 – $12,259.65
Brandon Russell 768 5.43 – N/A
Total valid votes 14,137 95.31
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes 695 4.69
Turnout 14,832 45.24 +6.14
Eligible voters 32,787
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: "2022 Election Results". City of Ottawa.

References

  1. ^ "Mark Sutcliffe laces up for new political marathon". CTV Ottawa. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Ontario parents face difficult choice of whether to send kids back to school". Ottawa Citizen. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  3. ^ Peter Hum (24 October 2022). "Somerset ward results: Ariel Troster triumphs, extends progressive streak in downtown Ottawa". Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Ariel Troster". Xtra Magazine. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  5. ^ Josh Lieblein (23 October 2022). "Doorstep Postings: Ariel Troster is in it for the long haul—no matter how the 2022 Ottawa election turns out". Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  6. ^ @cmckenney (3 Jan 2022). "Somerset Ward would be very well represented by Ariel Troster" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Troster, Ariel (2023-01-05). "Downtown Ottawa needs strong social supports to bounce back". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  8. ^ Troster, Ariel. "We know how to fix homelessness but we need support to do it, Premier Ford". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  9. ^ Troster, Ariel (2022-10-03). "It's time to rethink community safety". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  10. ^ Troster, Ariel (2023-01-25). "Let's make Wellington Street a place for people". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  11. ^ Troster, Ariel (2024-06-14). "Want pedestrian-friendly streets, Ottawa? Then speak up". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  12. ^ Devine, Sean; Bradley, Jessica; Troster, Ariel (2023-11-07). "Lansdowne — stop rushing and get it right". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  13. ^ Pringle, Josh (2023-11-09). "Council approves $419 million Lansdowne 2.0 plan". CTV News. Ottawa. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  14. ^ Raymond, Ted (2024-04-17). "Council approves crucial procedural step for Lansdowne 2.0 plan". CTV News. Ottawa. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  15. ^ White-Crummey, Arthur (2024-09-18). "Bid to reverse LRT frequency cut loses at council". CBC News. Ottawa. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  16. ^ Wilimek, Andrew (2024-09-18). "Ottawa city council narrowly votes down restoration of off-peak LRT service". The Fulcrum. Ottawa. Retrieved 2024-11-10.