Biography: No information could be found online about this candidate at the time of publishing.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication.

Biography: Little information is available online about Naser Kaid. Previously, he worked as a taxi driver and in 2016, he advocated against the taxi drivers’ strike, calling rideshare apps like Uber “healthy” competition. It’s unclear if Kaid is still a taxi driver. He ran for TDSB trustee in the ward in 2014, coming in last. In 2022, he ran for trustee again and came in seventh out of eight. In 2023, Kaid ran for councillor in the Ward 20 byelection, coming last out of 23 candidates.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication.

Biography: Kandavel was elected in the November 2023 Ward 20 — Scarborough Southwest by-election. He was previously a math teacher at a Scarborough private school and a TDSB trustee from 2014-2022. The boards and committees he sits on include the Economic and Community Development Committee, the City-School Boards Advisory Committee, and the boards of TCHC and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

During his previous campaign, Kandavel took the “No Developer Money” pledge. He has expressed concern about plans to include a shelter at 2535 Gerrard St. E. and a high-rise at a former Beer Store location. He has generally opposed the various densification and “missing middle” planning changes implemented this term, such as permitting multiplexes, low-rises, and townhouses along major streets, and mid-rise development on streets designated Avenues.

Kandavel has put forward successful motions about expanding parking at Scarborough GO Station, stemming the crowds at Bluffer’s Park, advancing the West Scarborough Rail Trail, “preserving the character” of Cliffcrest, and addressing concerns about a planned data centre expansion, and data centres more broadly.

In May, Kandavel announced he was being investigated by the OPP. The Toronto Star has reported that anonymous sources claimed Kandavel requested large payments to “third parties” while their developments were in the approval process. Kandavel recused himself from decisions about developments in his ward.

Platform: Kandavel says he will improve service on crowded transit routes and add traffic calming “where it’s needed”. He also mentions new parks and sports facilities and securing funding for public art made by local artists. He wants local growth to be paired with the expansion of community resources.

Biography: No information could be found online about this candidate at the time of publishing.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication.

Biography: Sharmina Nasrin describes herself as a former public servant. On LinkedIn, she says that she worked as MPP Lorne Coe’s constituency assistant. In March, Nasrin sought the Ontario Liberal nomination for MPP during a provincial by-election in Scarborough Southwest, but withdrew before the vote and later threw her support behind Ahsanul Hafiz after he won the nomination.

Platform: Nasrin promises to protect tenants by fighting renovictions, pushing for stronger bylaws, getting RentSafeTO to enforce higher standards, and support development that would maintain the “feel” of local streets. On transit, Nasrin says that, if elected, she would advocate for more frequent and reliable bus service on well-used routes, Vision Zero safety upgrades at busy intersections and school zones, more accessible sidewalks and ramps, and more Wheel-Trans service in the ward.

Nasrin also makes a slew of promises having to do with youth development, including more employment services and job fairs in the ward and opening pathways for newcomers’ credentials to be recognized (though this falls under the purview of the provincial government). She says that she would also advocate for city services in more languages, more cultural centres, and community hubs where residents can get paperwork done without going downtown. Nasrin also says that she would fight for more around-the-clock crisis response and mental health supports in the ward.

Biography: According to his LinkedIn, Mohammad Ali Reza is the owner of Ad & Design Square Inc., a local company that makes custom signage for businesses.

Platform: In a Facebook post, Reza says that he wants to provide seniors with more programming to stay active, give children more sports and recreation opportunities, help people find employment, support local businesses, fix roads, and end construction delays.

Biography: Kevin Rupasinghe is an advocate with a background in civil engineering. Rupasinghe’s LinkedIn lists him as the 2025-26 interim executive director of Unlock Democracy Canada, a non-profit focused on electoral reform. He was also a campaigns manager for Cycle Toronto from 2019 to 2022 and advocated for bike infrastructure around the city, including the West Scarborough Rail Path.

In 2022, Rupasinghe ran for council and came third out of eight. He ran again in the Ward 20 2023 by-election and came in second out of 23 candidates.

He has been endorsed by Progress Toronto and the Toronto & York Region Labour Council, and by Nate Erskine-Smith, former Liberal MP and current council candidate for Ward 19 — Beaches-East York.

Platform: Rupasinghe wants to make Scarborough’s streets safer by adding more sidewalks in residential streets. He also wants to use his position as a city councillor to make Toronto more climate-resilient by building more housing rather than “bulldozing over the greenbelt,” and improving the transit system.

Rupasinghe is also pushing for a pause on the STACK data centre expansion in the ward, calling out the fact that the City hasn’t finished updating its zoning rules and reviews process to apply to data centres, and that it’ll likely go through before rules are in place. Rupasinghe is also calling for a moratorium on all new and expanded data centres until the regulatory framework and review process is updated.

Biography: Malik Ahmad describes himself as a small business owner. Ahmad ran for councillor in Ward 20 in the 2022 general election and the subsequent 2023 by-election, most recently placing 12th out of 23 candidates. His campaigns have focused on improving housing, tenant protections, transit, and bike lanes, among other issues. Ahmad is also the co-founder of the International Indian Film Festival Toronto.

Platform: Ahmad’s campaign focuses on student and staff well-being, addressing racism and discrimination, and supporting newcomers. He wants to improve access to support for students with diverse learning needs, and prioritizes the “responsible stewardship of public funds.”

Biography: Azim Dewan is a real estate salesperson, according to Realtor.ca. He was involved in the planning of the International Mother Language Day monument in Dentonia Park.

Platform: Dewan’s website appears to no longer be available. A previous version of the site mentioned providing literacy and numerical skills to students, improving accessibility, and supporting safe learning environments.

Biography: Karen Emerson has worked as an artistic director at Children’s Peace Theatre. According to her LinkedIn profile, she was in that role for nearly 15 years, from 2007 to 2022.

Emerson is endorsed by the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, with the organization describing her as “lifelong advocate for children, youth, and strong public education.” She is also endorsed by Progress Toronto and by Toronto Education Workers/Local 4400, a division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Platform: Emerson’s platform focuses on advocating against having police in schools, pushing back on budget cuts, and bringing back power to TDSB trustees. She wants to reinstate funding for model schools and special education, and address the repair and maintenance shortfall in school buildings.

Biography: Ahnaaf Hassan served as a student trustee within TDSB, elected by students for the 2025-2026 term. According to his LinkedIn profile, he’s now a first-year student at the University of Toronto.

In November 2025, Hassan, along with four other student trustees, wrote an op-ed in the Globe and Mail criticizing Bill 33, the provincial government’s act that stripped TDSB trustees and others of their role and placed those school boards under supervision.

Platform: Ahnaaf Hassan’s platform focuses on restructuring school funding to support all schools within the ward, including model schools. He advocates for an adequate food and nutrition program for students, and special education funding.

Biography: Little information about Md Sazibul Islam is available online. According to his LinkedIn profile, he is doing an internship as an accountant and tax consultant. On his campaign website, Sazibul Islam says he contributes to the community through volunteer tax clinics.

Platform: Sazibul Islam’s platform focuses on expanded food programs in schools, improved ventilation systems, and stronger bullying prevention and response. He mentions mental health and better supports for students with accessibility needs, alongside access to extracurriculars and technological and financial literacy. He wants to foster strong literacy and numeracy foundations, and communication with parents.

Biography: Glenn Kremp is currently the co-chair and safety representative of Birch Cliff Public School Parent Council. Kremp says he has served as a member of Toronto Police Service’s Community Police Liaison Committee.

Platform: On his website, Kremp says he will support a way for students to balance school life with technology, saying he wants to “put more pen to paper back in the classroom.” He also says he will champion more funding that goes towards supporting students, and make sure that parent and student councils are engaged.

Biography: No information could be found online about this candidate at the time of publishing.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication.

Biography: Jocelyne Poirier is a Chartered Professional Accountant in Ontario, with roughly 15 years of experience in accounting and finance. According to her LinkedIn profile, she’s the director of finance at ExamWorks, a U.S.-based company that provides medical exams and platforms to health care clients.

In 2025, Poirier ran as the federal Conservative MP candidate for the Beaches-East York riding. She came in a distant second place, losing to Liberal candidate Nathan Erskine-Smith.

Platform: Poirier’s platform focuses on “high-quality education” for students, inclusive and safe schools, and accountability and local representation that stays engaged with local families.

Biography: Marisa Sterling is a professional chemical engineer. She worked as an assistant dean and a director of diversity, inclusion and professionalism at the University of Toronto. Prior to that, she was the assistant dean, inclusivity and diversity, at Lassonde School of Engineering at York University.

Sterling served as president-elect of Professional Engineers Ontario, having been elected in the role in 2019. According to her LinkedIn profile, she was in the organization until 2022; she now works as a director of professional development and inclusivity at Hygienic Echo, a company that creates badge technology in support of hand hygiene.

In 2014, Sterling sought the Liberal nomination for the Beaches-East York riding, but lost to Nathan Erskine-Smith. She filed an appeal with the Liberal party, alleging that the winning candidate used robocalls to encourage votes. The Ottawa Citizen reported that the appeal was triggered by “unproven suspicions”.

Platform: Sterling’s platform focuses on advocating to restore leadership within the TDSB and combatting the province’s current supervision of the board. She wants to create an engagement network to connect all schools within the ward, and push for smaller class sizes and better support for students.

Nancy Crawford has been the TCDSB trustee for the ward since 2010. She is running unopposed in the TCDSB ward, and is therefore elected by acclamation.

Biography: During her time as trustee, Crawford has chaired all Standing Committees and served on the board of directors for the Angel Foundation for Learning, a charity in the TCDSB that supports students with financial challenges. She has also been on the Nurturing Our Catholic Community Advisory Panel, which operates faith initiatives and focuses on students’ spiritual education.

Platform: On Crawford’s Instagram account, she advocates for improvements in school infrastructure, including air purification and ventilation, funding for new schools, and securing learning supports for all students. Crawford mentions supporting an “age appropriate Catholic family life curriculum”, and having an inclusive learning environment for all students. She seeks to listen to parents’ concerns and center Jesus and Catholicism in all TCDSB classrooms.

Biography: Benoit Fortin is the incumbent trustee for Conseil scolaire Viamonde Ward 2 – Toronto Est, having held the role since 2018. He is running unopposed for the Viamonde ward, and is therefore elected by acclamation. He was previously elected by acclamation in 2022.

Fortin is also a founding member of SkyPower, a global solar energy company, where he is vice president of development for Africa and India. He is listed as a board director of L’Association des conseils scolaires des écoles publiques de l’Ontario and the chair of the Conseil scolaire Viamonde.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication.

Biography: Rhea Dechaine was elected trustee for Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir Ward 4 in 2023. Before that, she spent eight years on the parent council at Georges-Étienne-Cartier elementary, including four as co-president. Dechaine says she has 10 years of experience in finance, has organized numerous community events, and attended a MonAvenir school herself.

Platform: Dechaine says she has helped make “significant progress” on the project to bring a French-language Catholic high school to east Toronto, and will keep working on it if re-elected. She commits to listening to parents before making decisions, supporting families as they navigate the school system, and defends the French-language Catholic school system. Dechaine emphasises that students need more than academic achievement to succeed, and wants to make schools places where all students can feel “safe, welcomed, respected, and supported.”

Biography: Little information is available online about Clescadine Gustave. In a candidate survey conducted by Toronto Public Library in French and machine translated to English, Gustave said she has children who have attended MonAvenir schools.

Platform: Gustave said in the library survey that her first priority as a trustee would be to promote the Catholic faith within schools and to ensure students start and end each day with prayer. To fight bullying and discrimination, Gustave said schools need better training for principals and staff. She supports class size caps, saying classrooms should have one teacher for every 21 students, or one teacher and one teaching assistant for every 27 students.

Biography: No information could be found online about this candidate at the time of publishing.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication.