Neethan Shan emerged victorious in the Scarborough-Rouge Park byelection held on Monday. Shan secured 5,174 votes, accounting for 26.86% of the total votes, surpassing Anu Sriskandarajah with 3,374 votes and Shawn Allen with 2,934 votes. Toronto’s city clerk officially confirmed the election results the following day.
Defeating 19 other contenders, Shan clinched the council seat in Ward 25, representing a vast area from Steeles Avenue E. to Lake Ontario. He succeeded former councillor Jennifer McKelvie, who resigned after becoming the Liberal MP for Ajax.
Expressing gratitude to his supporters, Shan acknowledged the tireless efforts of nearly a thousand volunteers engaged in his campaign. He commended their dedication in putting up campaign signs and reinstating them when knocked down. Shan, accompanied by his wife and two sons, highlighted the collective and intergenerational strength of his team.
Furthermore, Shan extended appreciation to his fellow candidates, emphasizing the importance of sharing ideas in the electoral process. Having previously held the council seat in 2017 as the first Tamil-Canadian councillor, Shan’s recent victory marks his return after losing to McKelvie in the 2018 election.
Pledging to advocate for all neighborhoods within the ward and amplify Scarborough’s voice, Shan emphasized the significance of electing progressive representatives in Scarborough. He asserted Scarborough’s prominence and vowed to assertively ensure the city hall’s attention to Scarborough’s needs upon resuming his council duties.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow welcomed Shan to the city council, praising his commitment to serving Scarborough residents and championing various community initiatives. The voting process took place at 37 locations within the ward, with advance voting witnessing a turnout of 4,376 voters.
During the campaign, several candidates, including Shan, reported incidents of their election signs being vandalized. Shan, along with Ashan Fernando and Zakir Patel, expressed concerns over what appeared to be a targeted effort to sabotage their campaign materials.
Former deputy mayor McKelvie held the Scarborough-Rouge Park council seat for seven years before assuming mayoral responsibilities temporarily. She resigned from her council position in May after securing the Liberal MP seat for Ajax, following a successful federal election bid.
The Scarborough-Rouge Park ward, situated north of Lake Ontario, west of the Pickering Town Line, and south of Steeles Avenue E., has seen a transition in representation with Shan’s recent election victory.
