Scarborough-Rouge Park By-Election draws intense contest

By Lincoln DePradine

By-elections to fill vacant seats, especially at the local government level, are often marked by low turnout and little fanfare. However, next Monday’s Toronto City Council by-election in Ward 25 Scarborough-Rouge Park, could be different. With nearly 20 candidates in the running, representing diverse backgrounds and experiences, the contest is shaping up as one of the more competitive municipal races in recent years.

The vacancy was created when former councillor Jennifer McKelvie, who also served as Toronto’s deputy mayor, successfully contested the April 28 federal election. Running for the Liberal Party, McKelvie captured the Ajax riding, contributing to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s fourth consecutive term in office. Her move to Ottawa has now left residents of Ward 25 searching for new leadership at city hall.

Among the many names on the ballot are familiar community figures as well as newcomers to municipal politics. Candidates include former school trustee and city councillor Neethan Shan, long-time community advocate Zakir Patel, and entrepreneur Ashan Fernando. Each has spoken out about challenges their campaigns have faced, with incidents of vandalized or removed election signs drawing attention.

Fernando reported being told that someone in a white vehicle was seen removing his signs in the dead of night. “People need to play by the rules,” he said, calling for fairness in the campaign. Patel, meanwhile, described catching campaigners from another team placing signs over his own in front of his home. “Canada is a beautiful country. We are not used to those types of tactics,” he said, adding that he prefers knocking on doors to build support.

Shan, who has been active in politics since 2006 and currently serves as executive director of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, said hundreds of his signs have been vandalized. His team has even provided police with security camera footage and a licence plate number. “It’s an organized group of people doing vandalism,” Shan said. “We can’t be silent about this.”

Shan has received an official endorsement from the Toronto & York Region Labour Council (TYRLC), whose president, Andria Babbington, urged voters to back him as a “champion of labour.” The council warned that Toronto’s political right is eager to expand its influence at city hall, and that Shan’s candidacy provides a progressive counterbalance to Mayor Olivia Chow’s administration.

Still, endorsements alone may not determine the outcome in a ward as diverse as Scarborough-Rouge Park, where voters are weighing issues from housing to affordability to the quality of local services.

One of the people to watch in this race is businessman Shawn Allen, who was born at Scarborough Centenary Hospital and continues to live in Ward 25 with his wife and family. Allen, founder of a successful financial services company, has built his reputation on fiscal prudence and social impact.

He is also the founder of the Toronto Business Summit and is currently producing a documentary on housing in Canada, a subject that resonates deeply with Scarborough residents. Allen’s extensive volunteer work includes serving on charitable and non-profit boards across the city.

“Quality of life matters in our community,” Allen said, pledging to be thoughtful, judicious, and frugal with taxpayers’ dollars. He also acknowledges the legacy of Jennifer McKelvie, promising to serve in the same tradition of dedicated representation.

With so many strong candidates, the Ward 25 by-election is likely to hinge on which campaigns can mobilize voters in a short time frame. Residents will cast their ballots on September 29, with polls open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For Scarborough-Rouge Park, this by-election is not just about filling a vacancy. It is an opportunity to choose a voice that reflects the priorities of one of Toronto’s most dynamic communities.

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