Adam Giambrone, an Italian- Canadian politician, is President of the New Democratic Party of Canada and the Toronto city councillor representing the southern of two Davenport wards. Elected at 26, he is the youngest member of the 2003–2005 Toronto council.

An archeologist by training, Giambrone has participated in excavations in Tunisia, Libya, Sudan and Yemen. He speaks English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Arabic.

Early life and career

Growing up in the Davenport area of Toronto, he first became active with the New Democratic Party of Canada at age 15, in its youth wing. While studying at McGill University in Montreal, he served as treasurer of the New Democratic Youth of Canada, and ran for the NDP in the riding of Mount Royal in the 1997 Canadian election.

Returning to Toronto, he took up employment with the Royal Ontario Museum, where he became vice-president of his Ontario Public Service Employees Union local, and ran for Toronto city council in the southern Davenport ward against Mario Silva in the 2000 municipal election. In a bitter battle Giambrone lost, but did better than many had expected.

Federal NDP president

At the federal NDP convention of 2001, Giambrone won a first two-year term president of the party. He was initially a grassroots challenger to the "official slate" candidate customarily supported by the party brass, but the official slate candidate stood down in Giambrone's favour. The president of the NDP is the administrative chairperson of the party, chairing party conventions, councils and executive meetings. Giambrone was 24, and no younger person had ever become president (or leader) of a major Canadian party. He became a frequent guest on television and figure in the news, and travelled the country extensively speaking to New Democrats.

Seeking reelection at the 2003 convention that saw Jack Layton elected party leader, Giambrone faced a strong challenge from respected New Brunswick NDP leader Elizabeth Weir. Midway through the convention, Giambrone and Weir decided to seek a co-presidency. Many delegates balked, especially at the assumption they could push through a sudden constitutional change in a party often dearly concerned with internal process. The joint ticket was withdrawn, and Giambrone won a second term against Weir and a symbolic challenger.

Toronto councillor

Giambrone never gave up his campaign to win the south Davenport seat on Toronto city council, and after Silva left city council – he would later run and win as a Liberal in Davenport in the 2004 federal election – Giambrone became a leading candidate to replace him in the 2003 municipal election. With a strong campaign and the endorsements of the Toronto Star, NOW and Bloor West Villager newspapers, Giambrone defeated Ana Bailao, 26, Silva's former assistant, by 51 to 40 percent in a field of six.

Shortly after taking office, he was chosen as a Commissioner of the Toronto Transit Commission. While on city council, he remains president of the federal NDP.

External links

• Official site
• City biography