Ward 23 — Scarborough North
Fact-checked biographies and platform summaries for every municipal election candidate in Scarborough North.
About the Ward
Roughly bordered by Highway 401 to the south, Midland Avenue to the west, Steeles to the north, and Neilson Road to the east, Scarborough North contains neighbourhoods like Agincourt, Milliken, Malvern, and Morningside Heights. The population of the ward shrank by 3.7 percent in the last five years compared to a 2.6 percent growth citywide. Two in every three residents of the ward are immigrants, and 92.2 percent identify as visible minorities—the most out of any ward in the city. Incumbent Jamaal Myers was voted in during the 2022 election, in which the ward’s voter turnout was one of the lowest in the city for a second election season in a row.
Read The Local‘s ward profile for an in-depth look at the issues in Scarborough North.
Candidate Tracker was first published on September 25, 2026. Updates to candidates’ bios and platforms will be made intermittently and dated. Candidate Tracker was researched, written, and verified by The Local’s team of journalists and fact checkers.
City Council Candidates
Shaun Chen
Biography: Shaun Chen is the former Liberal MP for the Scarborough North riding. He held the role from 2015 up until August this year due to “significant health issues,” as a result of a motor vehicle accident that took place in fall 2025. He said that the health issues made it difficult for him to travel to Ottawa frequently.
Prior to being MP, Chen was a TDSB trustee for Ward 21, having been elected for the role for three terms, in 2006, 2010 and 2014. He was also elected as board chair in 2014.
During Chen’s time as MP, he introduced a motion to condemn anti-Asian hate and address anti-Asian racism, which was adopted unanimously.
Earlier this year Chen faced allegations of partaking in House votes while he was in China; members of parliament can only vote when in the country. However, Chen’s office supplied The Canadian Press copies of his boarding pass, and copies of his Visa stamps on Chen’s passport which indicated that he was in Canada to vote.
Platform: If elected, Chen says he will work on affordability and the cost of living, build housing, transit and infrastructure, and support seniors, young people and “vulnerable” groups. He also says he will work on making local businesses succeed.
Han Dong
Biography: Han Dong is a former Liberal MPP and MP in the governments of Kathleen Wynne and Justin Trudeau. Dong represented Trinity–Spadina at Queen’s Park between 2014 and 2018 but lost his redrawn seat to an NDP candidate in the 2018 election that brought Premier Doug Ford to power. He then jumped into federal politics, winning Don Valley North for the federal Liberals in 2019 and 2021. Dong resigned from the Liberal caucus in 2023 after a Global News report accused him of communicating with the Chinese consulate against Canada’s interests, an allegation that a commission of inquiry later found to be false. Dong sued Global News and its parent company for defamation and the lawsuit was settled in 2025. Before the specific allegation about Dong was published, he warned that “vague” allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian politics could contribute to anti-Chinese racism, saying he already had a “target” on his back.
As an MP, Dong introduced a committee motion that brought Rogers executives before MPs after a massive outage network in 2022 caused millions of Canadians to lose internet and cell phone service; and presented a petition to Parliament calling for all children in Canada to be allowed to receive the Canada Child Benefit, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. As an MPP, he pushed for better elevator access and faster repairs, which he said was a public safety issue, and helped bring Presto card sales into Shoppers Drug Mart stores.
Platform: Dong’s platform for Scarborough focuses on safety, road repairs, commutes, responsible spending, and being accessible to constituents. If elected, he promises to complete “lighting audits” of every public park and street in his first 100 days, create a safety table focused on reducing car thefts and home break-ins, and coordinate Neighbourhood Community Officers under a public safety plan. He says he will consult a park’s users before making any changes to the space, and make cross-walks safer for seniors. He wants to find funding for the Sheppard Subway Extension. He is opposed to RapidTO bus lanes on Finch Avenue East, which he says “take a lane from drivers.” He also says he will bring police hubs into shopping malls to reduce crime.
Sajawal Javed
Biography: Little information is available online about Sajawal Javed.
Platform: Some of the priorities listed in an Instagram post by Javed include affordable housing, implementing better transit, supporting local businesses, and safer neighbourhoods.
Kevin Li
Biography: According to Kevin Li’s campaign website, he was an assistant to Ward 23 Councillor Cynthia Lai until her death in 2022. During Lai’s tenure, Li says he received a community service award from her.
Li also says that he serves as an advisor to Scarborough Ontario Health Team, a network of healthcare providers, though he is not listed on its website.
Li’s campaign website also goes on to say that he’s supported multiple charities including the Mon Sheong Foundation and long-term care organization Yee Hong.
Platform: According to Li’s campaign website, he is in favour of more policing to keep communities safe. He also says that he sees the need for more reliable city services with faster response times, and to ensure property tax increases do not surpass resident’s ability to pay or income increases. He wants councillors to commit to serving their full terms at city hall rather than leaving to run for other positions.
Jamaal Myers - Incumbent
Biography: Myers was elected in 2022 after incumbent councillor Cynthia Lai died just days before the election. He was formerly a lawyer and community organizer involved with Scarborough Transit Action, and campaigned on affordable housing and improving public transit.
He was appointed TTC chair by Olivia Chow in 2023, and additionally sits on Audit, Budget, and Planning and Housing committees. He is chair of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee.
In a closed-door TTC board meeting in October 2023, Myers tried to suspend TTC CEO Rick Leary pending the result of a workplace investigation, but was outvoted. (Leary resigned eight months later.) After a lithium-ion battery fire on the subway, Myers pushed for a wintertime ban on e-bikes and e-scooters on the TTC. He passed a motion to look into “adaptively reusing” the old SRT elevated track as a park or pedestrian/cycling corridor.
Myers initiated a multiplex pilot project in his ward, encouraging the development of low-rise buildings with up to six units—a prerequisite for federal housing funding—and studying the impact.
He successfully added a requirement for at least two members of the Housing Rights Advisory Committee to be people with disabilities.
Myers has been endorsed by Scarborough—Guildwood MPP Andrea Hazell, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park MP Gary Anandasangaree, and the Toronto & York Region Labour Council.
Platform: On his website, Myers mentions faster transit, housing affordability, local businesses, investments in community, and city services.
John-Mark Oleh
Biography: Little information is available online about John-Mark Oleh. An orientation slide from York University shows that Oleh was the Stong College Student Government president in 2023.
Platform: Oleh’s campaign website says that he will push for more reliable and frequent bus services, improve bus shelters and lighting, and push for better transit infrastructure within the ward. He wants to better support neighbourhood health services. He also says he would support funding for parks and public spaces (in addition to making them more accessible), support mental health programs for young people, and be transparent on public spending.
Ronald Phen
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.
Piravena Sathiyanatham
Biography: Little information is available online about Piravena Sathiyanantham. She says on Facebook that she is a paralegal, but she is not listed in the Law Society of Ontario’s directory. In 2016, she ran for the Ward 21 TDSB trustee and came in 11th out of 20 candidates.
Platform: Sathiyanantham’s platform includes improvements to parks, community centres, and recreation programs, better transit, and more affordable housing.
School Trustee Elections
In 2025, the Ford government passed Bill 33, the Supporting Children and Students Act. Among other things, this gave the province the ability to take control of local school boards and strip trustees of their powers. Today, eight school boards including the Toronto and Toronto Catholic District School Boards are under provincial supervision. This means trustees at the TDSB and TCDSB are no longer able to make decisions about budgeting and policy, and are barred from communicating with parents or community members in an official capacity. Earlier this year, the province also capped the number of trustees and wards per school board at 12, bringing the TDSB down from 22. As a result, some incumbents are now running against each other for a single position. You can find an updated ward map on the TDSB’s website here. To learn more about the takeover of school boards, you can read The Local’s reporting here.
School Trustee Candidates
Dedan Deus
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.
Angus Grant
Biography: Little information about Angus Grant is available online. His LinkedIn says he’s a self-employed consultant, and that he was a board member for Nine Miles of Smiles and Action Volunteer Alliance. Grant told the Toronto Public Library’s voter information service that he was on a TDSB school’s parent council for seven years.
Platform: Answering the library’s survey, Grant said his priorities are clear communication with families, smaller class sizes, better funding and more educational staff and resources in classrooms. He wants to conduct a review of central TDSB spending and says he’d look into revenue options from “surplus resources” that have no planned use.
Dameon Halstead
Biography: According to Dameon Halstead’s LinkedIn, he’s a chaplain and an assistant within the Canadian International Chaplaincy Association. In 2022 Halstead ran for Durham District School Board trustee in Ajax, coming seventh out of nine candidates.
Platform: Halstead’s campaign website emphasizes the need for “urgent attention” on issues including mental and physical health and safety, school infrastructure, and accountability.
Curtis Jack
Biography: According to Curtis Jack’s LinkedIn, he is principal advisor and consultant at an IT advisory firm, True Aim Solutions Ltd., with past roles in technology and operations.
Platform: Jack’s priority is communication and accountability with parents. He wants to push back on the province’s control over the TDSB, and be transparent on his votes and spending.
Abdul Azeem Mohammed
Biography: Abdul Azeem Mohammed is an operations manager at Lawrence Victoria Park Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. He’s listed as a member of TDSB’s Parent Involvement Advisory Committee.
Platform: Mohammed’s campaign website says his priorities are student success, safe and inclusive schools, and parent and community engagement. He wants to address literacy challenges and any resulting mental health and wellbeing concerns, saying that struggles in school can take a mental toll. He commits to work towards better school infrastructure, and accountability.
Ravicha Ravinthiran
Biography: Ravicha Ravinthiran is a real estate salesperson. According to her LinkedIn, she’s a product manager at Rates.Ca, a financial services company, as well as an associate producer at Palan, a media agency. In 2025, Ravinthiran received the Tamil 30 Under 30 recognition by Tamil Civic Action, a Tamil community organization based in Canada.
Platform: Ravinthiran’s wants to instill practical skills, like financial literacy, for students. She prioritizes regular town halls, mental health support, and transparency in spending.
Carla Allen
Biography: No information could be found online about this candidate at the time of publishing. A person with the same name is listed as the parent council chair at St. Mother Teresa Catholic Academy, a high school in Scarborough.
Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication.
Mary Cury Paul
Biography: Little information is available online about Mary Cury Paul. On LinkedIn, she is listed as a teacher at Canadian Tamil Academy.
Platform: Paul’s platform includes fighting for counselling services in schools, ensuring the board is held accountable, and teaching students human values and creativity “in a world shaped by artificial intelligence”.
Garry Tanuan - Incumbent
Biography: Garry Tanuan has been the TCDSB trustee for Ward 8 since 2012. He is the current vice-chair of the board and has served on several committees including student achievement, governance, and the by-law review committee. He was the trustee representative on the Catholic Parent Involvement Committee and sits on the board of directors for the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association.
In 2013, Tanuan brought forward a motion for the TCDSB to resist Ontario’s Accepting Schools Act which mandated that boards allow student gay-straight alliance groups and activities. At the time, he expressed that this Act would promote a “positive view of homosexual activity”. In 2019, Tanuan voted against a motion to amend the Code of Conduct to adopt the terms marital status, family status, gender identity, and gender expression. In 2021, he voted against a motion to proclaim June as Pride month and fly a Pride flag at TCDSB schools.
In 2024, Tanuan was one of only two trustees to vote in favour of flying the “pro-life flag” at TCDSB schools and encouraging students to participate in an annual anti-abortion rally in Ottawa.
Platform: On his website, Tanuan says he will place God and faith at the centre of every policy, ensure families have a voice in decisions, improve academic standards, and advocate for students with special needs.
Benoit Fortin - Incumbent
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.
Rhea Dechaine - Incumbent
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.”
Clescadine Gustave
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.
Derek McNulty
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.
More from this issue:
Debate Tracker
Every mayoral and ward-level debate across Toronto, Mississauga, and Brampton—all in one place.
Who Wants to Be a Toronto School Trustee?
The Ford government has cut their pay, disempowered them, and taken over the board. But some candidates say vying to represent their community’s education concerns is more important than ever.
How to Vote in the 2026 Toronto Election
Everything you need to know about voting for mayor, councillor, and trustee in October’s municipal election
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Contributors: Inori Roy, Rebecca Gao, Filipa Pajevic, Alice Boyle, Kunal Chaudhury, Hailey Choi, Maya Elhawary, Ramona Leitao, Emma Paling, Neville Park, Prarthana Pathak, Victoria Hincapie Gomez, Jessica Kim, and Gabrielle McMann. For corrections or additions, please email us at elections@thelocal.to.
Candidate Tracker was made possible through generous support from Toronto Foundation. Candidate Tracker was produced independently by The Local.
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