Clare Hacksel is running to be Toronto-Danforth's progressive champion in Ottawa
Clare Hacksel was nominated as the Toronto-Danforth NDP's candidate for the next federal election in July 2023.
Read our news release.
Clare was born and raised in Toronto and is a proud Toronto-Danforth resident where she with her family today.
Clare is a passionate volunteer. She’s spent her career in health care and is an active advocate for filling the gaps in Canada’s health system. Clare believes in putting people first and building a society that empowers those people to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.
“I’m tired of watching while people in our community do everything right, but just fall further behind – all while the Liberals and Conservatives stand by letting the ultra-wealthy make things worse.
I understand what people are going through right now, and as a proud New Democrat I will fight to make life better for people. We’re going to work to get more help with the high cost of living, deliver more truly affordable housing and defend access to the health care services people depend on.” - Clare Hacksel
Like many people in Toronto-Danforth, Clare's parents immigrated to Canada and ran a small business on Queen St where she spent many Saturdays working behind the counter running the cash register. After Clare's father died her mother worked twice as much to ensure she and her sisters could stay in their home and pursue their goals. This upbringing convinced Clare to commit her life to the service of others, which she's done through mentorship programs for at-risk youth, harm reduction programs, and mental and sexual health services.
Clare has a Master’s degree in Social Policy from the University of Oxford, over 15 years of leadership roles in the healthcare and social services sector and is a member of the Health Network for Non-Insured Clients. Recently Clare has been training to become a midwife.
Clare was also our federal candidate in 2021.
Clare also loves to volunteer. She was the Chair of the Board at VIBE Arts for Children and Youth and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the National Abortion Federation Canada. In Toronto-Danforth she's been a Board member of the South Riverdale Child-Parent Centre and is a volunteer at Bethany Baptist Church Foodbank, Co-Chairs her son’s school parent council and organizes the DeGrassi Park annual Pumpkin Parade.
In recognition of Clare's work in the non-profit sector, she received the Toronto Community Foundation Vital People Award in 2013 and was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Women by the Canadian Executive Network in 2022.
Visit Clare's website and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to learn more about her background and work fighting for progressive values in Toronto-Danforth.