
About Mike
Mike Colle is a seasoned Canadian politician with a career spanning several decades in both municipal and provincial government. Born in Foggia, Italy, Mike immigrated to Canada at the age of five, growing up in Toronto's College Street area. He pursued higher education at Carleton University and later dedicated 18 years to teaching history and economics at Michael Power High School and St. Michael’s College School, where he also coached football.

Mike's political journey began at the municipal level, serving as a Councillor for the City of York from 1982 to 1985 and as a Metropolitan Toronto Councillor from 1988 to 1994. During this period, he held the position of Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) from 1991 to 1994, where he was instrumental in advocating for the Eglinton Subway project.
In 1995, Mike transitioned to provincial politics, representing the riding of Oakwood, and subsequently Eglinton—Lawrence, in the Ontario Legislature until 2018. As a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), he served as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration from 2005 to 2007 and was known for championing environmental causes, including the protection of the Oak Ridges Moraine and the creation of Ontario's Greenbelt.
After his tenure at Queen's Park, Mike returned to municipal politics, being elected in 2018 as the Toronto City Councillor for Ward 8 Eglinton—Lawrence. In this role, he has been a vocal advocate for residents and businesses affected by the Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction and has led initiatives to enhance community safety and revitalize local neighborhoods.
In August 2023, Mike was appointed Deputy Mayor of Toronto for North York by Mayor Olivia Chow, reflecting his extensive experience and commitment to public service. Beyond his political endeavors, Mike is a dedicated marathon runner, and continues to participate in the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon annually. He and his wife, Sharon, are proud parents of four children and grandparents to seven grandchildren.
Some of Mike’s proudest accomplishments:
-
Continuing to stand up for residents and businesses affected by Metrolinx’s ongoing delays to the Eglinton LRT;
-
Successfully passing a unanimous motion in Council to enact Mobile Mental Health Crisis Response Teams across the City;
-
Creating an Anti-Auto Theft Task Force to take stronger action against the rise in auto theft across the City;
-
Leading the way for the Revitalization and Community Building (including increased community safety measures) in Lawrence Heights;
-
Fighting to Save our Ravines through public engagement, removal of invasive species and securing funding;
-
Continuing his mission of turning more parking lots into parks;
-
Working to improve Bathurst Street from Glencairn Avenue to Highway 401 to make Bathurst Greener and Better;
-
Standing against the Province’s proposed upload of the TTC Subway.
