Here Are the Don Valley West By-Election Candidates

Biography: Rachel Chernos Lin has been the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trustee for Ward 11 since 2018 and chair of the board since 2022. She has advocated for issues like food security, mental health supports, and youth violence prevention, among others. Most notably, Chernos Lin has been part of the team spearheading a lawsuit by Ontario school boards against social media giants TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat. The lawsuit, filed in March of this year, is backed by 14 school boards across Ontario, the majority of which are public boards, including the TDSB and Ottawa-Carleton. It cites the impact of social media on youth mental health, attention spans, and vulnerability to misinformation, and the fallout for educators, as reasons for the lawsuit. Chernos Lin also brought forward a successful TDSB motion in January for the board to develop a cell phone use policy for students, which has coincided with the province’s ban on classroom cell phone use.

She has also been outspoken on the issue of the TDSB budget, expressing concern that this year’s budget has only temporarily put off the inevitable cuts demanded by an underfunded and strained system. Chernos Lin has also advocated for a more inclusive school environment. She voted this summer in favour of a TDSB report that recommended adding anti-Palestinian racism to the board’s anti-racism strategy; however, she had initially introduced a failed motion to send back the report asking for a clearer definition of anti-Palestinian racism, saying that the unclear definition had “caused fear” among some, including Jewish community members.

Chernos Lin’s current campaign for city council has received endorsements from the Liberal MPP and MP for Don Valley West, Stephanie Bowman and Rob Oliphant, as well as Toronto Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie. Chernos Lin confirmed in an email to The Local that she has also been endorsed by former Ontario premier and Liberal MPP for the ward, Kathleen Wynne (whose partner is chair of the Chernos Lin campaign’s fundraising efforts).

Platform: Chernos Lin has not released a full platform as of publishing. On her website, she mentions wanting to reduce gridlock in the ward, make neighbourhoods and streets more walkable, and push for more resilient infrastructure.

Biography: Habiba Desai is a frequent city council candidate, previously having run for mayor in 2023, when she finished with fewer than 200 votes, for Ward 24—Scarborough-Guildwood city councillor in 2022, and as an independent candidate for Toronto-Danforth in the 2021 federal election. According to her LinkedIn, Desai has a background in international development and is self-employed. In 2022, she appeared to have helped her mother run as one of two candidates for trustee in the French-language secular school board, Viamonde. That election was subsequently voided because the City Clerk deemed both candidates were ineligible for the role, although Desai’s mother disputed this.

Platform: Desai is an outspoken advocate for the police, and her platform proposes a salary increase of $41,000 and a housing subsidy of $50,000 for every police officer in order to improve recruitment and retention. Desai also wishes to station police officers in high schools to lead clubs and sports teams. She wants to build an athletics facility in the ward, funded by the revenue from high-profile celebrity fight nights. She also proposes making the TTC free as part of an agreement with Metrolinx, though she does not elaborate on how this would be funded.

Biography: Anthony Furey is best-known as a political commentator with right-wing views. He works as a senior associate at an Ottawa-based communications and lobbying firm called Sandstone Group, was a longtime columnist for the Toronto Sun, and formerly served as vice-president of editorial and content for the far-right media outlet and advocacy organization True North. He ran for mayor in 2023, finishing in fourth place with about five percent of the vote. In Furey’s more than a decade-long career in punditry, he has frequently promoted right-wing views: he expressed sympathy for the 2022 Freedom Convoy , and has criticized “critical race theory and gender ideology” in schools. Furey also has an approximately decade-long record of publicly criticizing Islam, including cautioning against allowing Muslim immigrants into Canada, and opposing a federal motion condemning Islamophobia in the aftermath of the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting. Furey reportedly spoke at an April 2023 far-right event where two of his fellow speakers were anti-trans, anti-LGBT activists, known for a disruptive rally targeting Ottawa schools that forced students to shelter in place. Furey rejects any allegations of transphobia and Islamophobia.

Platform: Furey has released a limited platform at the time of publishing, in which he describes traffic, crime prevention, and limiting tax increases as his key priorities. He advocates for increased policing and the elimination of safe injection sites. He opposes additional bike lanes on major roads and wants to enforce traffic laws more strictly. He wants to address crime rates, including increasing incidents of car theft in Don Valley West. Furey also criticizes the city’s spending on “pet projects” like the renaming of Yonge-Dundas Square. His platform opposes raising property taxes.

Biography: There is little information available about Peter Handjis online. According to his X (formerly Twitter) profile, he has more than two decades of experience as a business owner and manager. He is a frequent city council candidate. He ran in last year’s Scarborough Southwest by-election, coming 20th of 23. He also ran for mayor in 2023—a campaign during which he shared doctored photos of Olivia Chow endorsing him for mayor—and in 2022, in which he placed last.

Platform: Handjis has not released his platform at time of publication, although he appears to have launched a website with no information about himself or his campaign.

Biography: Little information about Syed Jaffery is available online. On a previous campaign website, Jaffery said he had worked in real estate, completed two years of medical school, and participated in political campaigning and volunteering. He has run for office many times, most recently for the 2024 mayoral by-election in Mississauga, coming last. Last year, Jaffery ran in Toronto’s mayoral by-election, and in the city councillor by-election in Ward 20—Scarborough Southwest. In 2021, Jaffery ran for federal office in Toronto Centre as a member of the People’s Party of Canada.

Platform: Jaffery has not released his platform at time of publication.

Biography: Dhruv Jain is a policy advisor, labour organizer, and campaign manager. Jain completed his PhD in philosophy, social and political thought from York University, where he was also a contract instructor involved in strike organizing with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3903’s bargaining unit. He has since worked as an organizer for the Elementary Teachers of Toronto, which represents 11,000 kindergarten to grade 8 teachers in the TDSB. On LinkedIn, Jain lists experience managing political campaigns at the level of the Toronto school board and the province. He served as Don Valley West MPP Stephanie Bowman’s executive assistant in 2023, and is also executive vice-president of the ward’s Provincial Liberal Association. From December 2023, Jain has been the director of transit policy for TTC Chair Jamaal Myers, a role from which he is currently on leave. He’s also been on the boards of organizations like the Toronto Public Library and The Churchill Society for Parliamentary Democracy.

Platform: Jain’s platform prioritizes “missing middle” housing, like townhomes and low-rise multiplexes, over high-rise buildings with small one- and two-bedroom units. He says he’ll expand the number of family-sized units through zoning policies that require a certain portion of them in all new “high-density housing projects,”  as well as public-private partnerships and retrofitting existing buildings. Jain also supports the expansion of bike lanes on side streets, increasing the presence of “TTC personnel” on public transit, and adding more red-light cameras on city streets. He has committed to working closely with the Toronto Police Service and their Provincial Carjacking Task Force to mitigate car theft in the ward. Jain additionally mentions infrastructure improvements, including climate-change-resilient upgrades and preemptive identification of vulnerabilities that warrant investment. He proposes increased social support workers and community resources to address “security issues” associated with homelessness and mental health crises.

Biography: Information about this candidate could not be found at time of publication.

Platform: Lamanna has not released a platform at time of publication.

Biography: Little information is available online about Cleveland Marshall. A candidate by the same name ran for mayor in the 2023 by-election, finishing 33rd out of 102 candidates, and ran for Ward 13—Toronto Center councillor in 2022, placing eighth out of nine candidates.

Platform: Marshall has not released a platform at time of publication.

Biography: Sam Robinson is the son of former Ward 15 councillor Jaye Robinson who held the seat for 14 years before she died in May 2024, triggering the current by-election to fill her seat. On LinkedIn, Robinson lists work experience in sales, visual research, and production. On his website, Robinson promises to remain unaffiliated with any political party.

 Platform: Robinson has not released a full platform as of publishing. On his website, his priorities include reducing traffic congestion and improving road safety, protecting Toronto’s green spaces, engaging in community consultation, and advocating for fiscal responsibility at City Hall.

Biography: Evan Sambasivam is a policy advisor for the federal Liberal Party, and describes himself as a mental health advocate. Sambasivam ran for city council in 2022, placing second among five candidates in Ward 8—Eglinton-Lawrence. During the past year, Sambasivam has served as a legislative assistant to Scarborough–Rouge Park MP Gary Anandsangaree and as an advisor to Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine MP Diane Lebouthillier. On Lebouthillier’s team, he worked at the Ministry of National Revenue and the Ministry of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard. He previously worked as a youth mental health consultant at Capitalize for Kids and led a chapter of Jack.org, a mental health advocacy group, while pursuing his undergraduate degree. Sambasivam says he is running for council in honour of his friend who died from causes related to homelessness and mental illness.

Platform: In his platform, Sambasivam supports new housing projects and social services to alleviate Toronto’s homelessness crisis. He wants to provide more legal and regulatory support for renters, and supports the amendment of zoning laws to permit more varied housing options, like mid-rise apartments. He wants to expand Toronto’s stormwater infrastructure and revitalize Don Valley West’s many ravines to mitigate flooding. He has opposed the proposed relocation of the Science Centre, which is located in the neighbouring ward. To make the TTC more accessible and reliable, and to reduce traffic congestion, Sambasivam proposes a fare cap for students and seniors, better accountability for maintenance-related delays, and transit priority signals for certain bus routes. Sambasivam also wants to tackle food insecurity by advocating for tax abatements for locally-owned grocery stores and making sure that residents of the ward can access food security programs, like the city’s Student Nutrition Program and the new National School Food program.

Biography: Shakhlo Sharipova is an ophthalmologist and the founder of the Thorncliffe Park Autism Support Network (TPASN), a grassroots organization that provides free community-based services for children with disabilities. In 2023, the City recognized her work with TPASN through the Disability Access Award. Sharipova is a member of the 53 Division Community Police Liaison Committee, a group of local volunteers who work with local police officers. She is a resident of Thorncliffe Park, and received the Agnes Macphail Award in 2023 for her contributions to the East York community.

Platform: Sharipova plans to expand the Jenner Jean-Marie Community Centre or open additional recreational spaces. She mentions social justice as central to her platform, and hopes to establish charitable partners to support the community’s needs. Sharipova lists affordable housing, tenant rights, public transit improvements, climate-friendly policies, and local entrepreneurship as her priorities, but does not elaborate on her plans. She says community consultation is central to her approach.

Biography: Sheena Sharp is an architect with more than 25 years of experience in the field. She is a member of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), and has held several positions including president, treasurer, various vice-president roles, and 12 years on the governing council. She has served on additional boards, including for the OAA’s insurance company, Pro-Demnity, and for District 2030, a private-public initiative focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. She is the founder of Coolearth Architecture, a firm focused on designing low-carbon buildings, where she has worked for 16 years, according to her LinkedIn. Sharp previously ran for the Don Valley West council seat in 2022, finishing in second place out of four candidates. She also ran as the Green Party candidate in the ward’s 2022 provincial election, finishing in fourth place.

Platform: Sharp’s platform focuses on climate action and housing affordability. She wants to prioritize non-profit and co-op housing and cut red tape in Toronto’s city planning policies to allow for greater density in single-family neighbourhoods, and she wants a faster planning process so the city can approve and start construction on housing sooner. She also wants to decarbonize homes by transitioning from natural gas to electric heating when existing homes undergo renovation or repairs, and mandating heat pumps (a low-emissions heating system) in all new homes. She also supports electric transportation and improving TTC service.

Biography: Little information is available online about Jason Stevens. In 2010, he ran for City Council in former Ward 19—Trinity-Spadina, finishing last. In a brief YouTube video, Stevens claims to have run in 2016, but it’s not clear for which office. In answers Stevens gave to the Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Associations, he says he does not live in Don Valley West, but that his brother does.

Platform: Little information is available about Stevens’s platform, though in a brief YouTube video, he highlighted transit, safety, and housing as areas of focus. In a September interview with the Leaside Residents Association, Stevens said plans for new housing should avoid high concentrations of high-rises within a small area. He also said he plans to preserve small businesses within the community, but has not elaborated on any of these plans.

Biography: Lesley Stoyan is a culinary nutritionist and co-founder of The AppleTree Group, a non-profit that promotes urban health, food security, and access to public space. She is also the owner of Daily Apple, described as a “food and lifestyle education group” that hosted yoga events and more. She has been involved in multiple initiatives, including a community garden in Davisville and starting a farmers market in Eglinton Park. According to her site, she has organized educational programs about food security in public and private schools.

Platform: Stoyan’s campaign priorities are road safety and traffic reduction, food security in vulnerable neighbourhoods, and support for small businesses. She also wants to encourage alternatives to car travel. On social media, Stoyan says Ward 15 has nine distinct neighbourhoods, so broad-stroke policies won’t work.

Biography: Daniel Trayes is a harm reduction and housing advocate. He previously ran for council in the Ward 22—Scarborough-Agincourt by-election in 2021, placing 24th of 27, and in Ward 14—Toronto Danforth in the 2014 municipal election, coming last. Trayes experienced homelessness in Toronto for nearly 20 years, and says City Council lacks the necessary lived experience to address the issue. Trayes has worked for Scarborough-Guildwood councillor Paul Ainslie, who endorsed him during the 2021 by-election.

Platform: Trayes’s platform mentions the Ontario Science Centre, the Eglinton Crosstown and the Ontario Line, and Toronto’s unhoused. He emphasizes that more money needs to be allocated towards supporting the unhoused. He does not elaborate on his plans to address these issues.

Biography: Little is available online about Calvin Xu. Xu ran for council in Ward 17—Don Valley North in 2022, placing third of six candidates with 7.6 percent of the vote.

Platform: Xu has not released his platform at time of publication.