Empowering Local Voices

“I would consider it a privilege to serve the citizens of my community. I promise to be an advocate for the people of our district to be seen and heard.”

~ Tonya Malay

Tonya was born and raised in Nova Scotia and has been living in District 9 for over 20 years with her husband and four children. A familiar face in the community, Tonya is very well known for her volunteer work, dedication to the children in her community, and her love of local markets. She is a dog owner, a music lover, and a patron of the arts. She loves to cook, bike, bowl and is an avid pickleball player. She comes from a family of leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs who have instilled in her the importance of community and the value of approaching life guided by the adage “it takes a village.”

An alumnus from Saint Mary’s University, she began her professional career as an educational program assistant. She later worked over a decade as an account executive relocating families within Canada on behalf of the Federal Government. She has worked with the Treasury Board overseeing policy analysis and contract review.

In recent years, Tonya’s focus has been on raising her four children, as well as gaining experience in the healthcare sector working as a pharmaceutical assistant. Tonya knows volunteerism is at the root of every strong community. She has been Treasurer for the Westend Steelers Basketball Association, President of the Westmount School Association, and St. Agnes Parent/Teacher Association. Knowing the value that sport brings to youths, Tonya has also coached several teams including basketball, volleyball, and soccer. Currently, she volunteers at the Daily Bread; an outreach program assisting community members experiencing homelessness and food insecurity.

New Housing Solutions

  • Support no new encampments and advocate for viable locations with community partners.

  • Promote infrastructure for existing designated encampments to include safety measures.

  • Advocate for re-purposing the old Halifax Library to become a community environment that could provide overnight housing, meals, and support services.

  • Promote smart development with adequate infrastructure upgrades for the proposed housing developments (i.e. NODES).

Traffic Solutions

  • Ensure bike lanes connect. This increase’s usability and safety for all micromobility users. More bikes equals less emissions.

  • Recommend a transportation website that shows current and upcoming construction and traffic interruptions, to improve communications so the public can plan accordingly.

  • Recommend tenders include time sensitive measures for road closures to be scheduled at a time to minimize disruption during peak traffic and high volume events such as back to school.

  • Recommend to increase rapid transit routes to improve travel times and efficiency.

Community

  • Develop an identity for #district9.

  • Organize community clean ups.

  • Unify the district through events.

  • Create additional employment opportunities and/or work programs.

  • Work to improve communications to better inform citizens of bylaws, closures, construction delays….

  • I will work with developers and to ensure they are respecting the communities needs that are affected.

  • Create more beautification projects within #district9.

“It’s been a pleasure to know Tonya for the past 23 years. Her dedication and commitment to working with the community has inspired many to partake in the development and ownership of our local community activities. Tonya was instrumental in raising funds for the renovation of Westmount School gym that is used by so many in Halifax. She has always been an advocate for those who may require additional assistance and believes every person is key to improving our community. I feel strongly that Tonya will bring district 9 in the direction that is so needed. ~ Ian and Carole MacArthur

Make Way for Change

“Tonya is a dynamic volunteer at the Daily Bread Outreach which prepares and provides meals to over 100 persons in the HRM who are homeless or experiencing low fixed incomes. She is full of energy and is dedicated to this initiative on a weekly basis; bring humour and great fellowship. Her first hand experience in this area provides her with a sensitivity to the basic living conditions of those in need.” ~ Bernie Murphy

Community Events:

Coffee with Tonya

Sully + Porter every Thursday, from 10:00 - 11:30 am

Sully + Porter – Bakery, Café and Drinks bar (sullyandporter.com)

Election Dates:

October 8th-16th: Advance online and telephone voting

October 12th and 15th: Advance in-person voting

October 19th: Election Day