Whitby: People of Durham podcast profiles Ward 4 East candidate Steve Yamada

The latest episode of People of Durham, published October 16, features Steve Yamada, who is running for Regional Councillor in Whitby's Ward 4 East in the October 26 municipal election. Yamada was first elected as East Whitby's ward councillor in 2014 and to Durham Region council in 2018; before politics he worked for two Ontario cabinet ministers and is a teacher by training.

The episode covers Yamada's personal story, including growing up in Toronto's west end, what brought him to Whitby, and his family's Japanese Canadian history, including his grandmother's internment during the Second World War. It then turns to his priorities: property taxes and affordability, using AI to make municipal services more efficient, managing growth and transit-oriented communities near the GO station, live-work spaces, and rental housing.

Yamada also says the Town should study data centres before any are approved, and responds to recent headlines, according to the episode description. His message to residents, quoted in the episode notes: "A win doesn't have to be big. For some of these folks, a win has to be something as small as you listened to me, you helped me with my issue, and you were there when I needed you."

Whitby's municipal election is Monday, October 26, 2026, with voting from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; advance voting runs October 22 to 25, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters can find their ward and voting location at whitby.ca/VOTE. The full episode is available on the People of Durham YouTube channel.