Nine-year-old interviewing all 13 candidates in Beaches-East York ahead of October 26 election

A nine-year-old from Beaches-East York has become an unlikely power player in Toronto's election cycle, interviewing all 13 candidates running in her ward for her show 'Iya on Toronto,' broadcast on Instagram and YouTube.

Iya Thompson started the project as a small backyard initiative with her father, Steve Thompson, but it has grown into something neither anticipated. "It's been a fantastic father-daughter project and sort of what started as just a small thing in our backyard and in the local parks has blossomed into something a lot bigger than we thought," Steve said.

Each interview poses the same questions to candidates: their favourite place in the ward and the biggest issues facing the city. Iya's observations have been sharp. "Some of the issues they've said are the roads and traffic," she said. "A lot of them said that their favorite place is the beach."

The project has struck a chord in the community and beyond. School trustees and candidates from wards across Toronto have reached out requesting interviews. "We didn't start out this way but we're trying to build a platform where candidates can get their voices heard," Steve said. Local residents have praised Iya's initiative. "I think it's great for kids to get involved in elections," one Beaches-East York resident said. "Even for people like us it's amazing that a girl as young as her knows a lot about politics."

The municipal election takes place on October 26, 2026. Meanwhile, Kids Vote Weekend is set for October 10 and 11 at all advance polling locations, where children can cast a ballot for the 2027 Tree of the Year.