Giorgio Mammoliti, former Toronto councillor and MPP, dead at 64

Giorgio Mammoliti, former Toronto city councillor Ontario MPP, has died at the age of 64.

Giorgio Mammoliti, former Toronto city councillor and a former Ontario MPP, has died at the age of 64.

Christopher Mammoliti confirmed to CP24 in a communication that his father was “surrounded by his family when he passed.” He later said he died “unexpectedly and at home.”

“We are obviously devastated and are left with a tremendous void. Dad loved his family, his community and our beautiful city,” Mammoliti’s son wrote.

“We respectfully ask for privacy at this time but will be sure to share the viewing information as it becomes available.”

Mammoliti served as the city councillor for Ward 7 York West (now known as Humber River–Black Creek) from 2000 until 2018, representing communities in the city’s northwest end.

Before his time at City Hall, Mammoliti was elected to the Ontario legislature, serving as a Member of Provincial Parliament for the NDP from 1990 to 1995, a role that would help him build the political profile that would later define his municipal career.

At City Hall, Mammoliti was known for his outspoken style and willingness to take controversial positions, such as in 2018 when he called on the city to bring back carding and school police officers. At one point, he also referred to Parkdale as a ‘pedophile district.’

Over 18 years on council, he frequently waded into debates and became one of the body’s most recognizable voices.

He was also a member of late Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s Executive Committee, as well as serving on the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and The Hockey Hall of Fame Committee.

In the 2018 municipal election, Mammoliti was defeated by Anthony Perruzza in Ward 7, ending his long tenure on council. He later ran again for office in 2023, but was unsuccessful.

During his long career in politics, Mammoliti also unsuccessfully ran for mayor in Toronto twice, in 2010 and 2023 when a by-election was called to replace John Tory. He also ran for mayor in the 2022 Simcoe County municipal election, but lost.

In recent years, Mammoliti had been residing in Wasaga Beach.

Condolences begin pouring in

Reaction has begun to pour in as word of Mammoliti’s death continues to spread.

In a statement, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow offered “sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to all those mourning his loss today.”

“Giorgio Mammoliti served the public for many years, both as an MPP and as a city councillor,” Chow wrote.

Peruzza, the councillor for Humber River—Black Creek, said he’s “saddened to learn of the sudden and tragic passing of Georgio Mammoliti.”

“My thoughts and prayers are with Georgio and his family during this time of loss. Rest in peace my friend,” the Ward 7 rep wrote in a post on social media.

Deputy Mayor Mike Colle also made a post online on Wednesday, saying that his former colleague had been “fighting for his life” at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

“Condolences to his family and friends and may Giorgio’s memory be an eternal blessing,” the Eglinton-Lawrence councillor wrote.

In a follow-up email to CP24, Colle shared the following statement:

“Giorgio was a political street fighter who took on all comers and never feared controversy when he believed in a cause, especially if he felt his constituents wanted or needed something done.”

York Centre Coun. James Pasternak said he’s “deeply saddened to hear about the passing of former Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti.”

“I served with him for eight years on Council. He was very dedicated to public service and always treated me with the utmost respect. I enjoyed his humour, energy, and passion to speak his mind. He was extremely dedicated to his constituents and loved the City of Toronto,” he wrote in a post on X.

Former Toronto Mayor John Tory said he too is “saddened” to hear of Mammoliti’s sudden death.

“I had known Giorgio for many years before I was elected mayor. While he was never far from controversy he always stood up for the people he represented and for better, or sometimes worse, said exactly what was on his mind,” Tory wrote.

He said upon his election as mayor, Mammoliti was his first City Council seatmate.

“While that allowed us to have many a conversation, sometimes even about civic issues, our proximity also put me in frequent close proximity to some of his unusual council pronouncements,” said Tory.

“All that aside, those same conversations we had and my many outside encounters with Giorgio allowed me to see what a big heart he had and how much he wanted to help hold up his community. He was a truly larger than life personality whose life was cut way too short.”

Maxime Bernier, leader of the People’s Party of Canada (PPC), said he’s “saddened to learn of the passing of Giorgio Mammoliti.”

“Giorgio had a long and distinguished career in public service — first as an NDP Member of Provincial Parliament, and later as a long-serving Toronto city councillor. What defined him was not party ideology, but his dedication to the people he represented,” Bernier wrote in a statement.

“He was known as a principled man who was willing to stand apart from his own party to serve his constituents’ interests when he believed it was necessary. That independence of mind is increasingly rare in politics.”

Bernier went on to say that his party was “honoured” that Mammoliti chose to run as a candidate in the 2025 federal election.

“His decision reflected the same independent spirit that guided him throughout his career — a commitment to serving people, not political machines.”

Flags lowered in Mammoliti’s memory

The City of Toronto is also offering its condolences on Mammoliti’s death, adding that all flags on official flagpoles at Toronto City Hall, Metro Hall, and the Civic Centres (East York, Etobicoke, York, North York and Scarborough) will be flown at half-mast from today until a date to be determined in his memory.

More info on how to express condolences, including details about funeral or memorial arrangements, will be posted online when available, the city said in a statement.