Ward 23 — Scarborough North

Ria Arora is a recent graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a certificate in Community Engagement, Leadership, and Development at The Chang School of Continuing Education. She is the founder and executive director of South Asian Yard, a not-for-profit organization that amplifies the voices and experiences of second-generation South Asian Canadians. Arora has also worked in a variety of non-profit roles, including in fund development at the Frontline Community Centre, and according to her LinkedIn profile, as a volunteer at a sexual assault support hotline.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mahboob Mian is an Environmental Consultant with over 20 years of experience in managing oil and gas and petrochemical-related environmental issues. He ran for Ward 23 city councillor in the 2018 municipal election where he placed ninth out of eleven candidates. While information about his current campaign was not found at the time of publication, his priorities during his 2018 campaign included working with law enforcement to address crime, creating more jobs in the community, and “increas[ing] attention on Single Women Problems.” He also said he wanted to create a free parking program at secondary education institutions, alongside working with trustees on education issues.

Yalini Rajakulasingam is the incumbent TDSB trustee for Scarborough North, holding office since 2018. On her LinkedIn, she shares that she obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto in Political Science as well as a Post-Graduate Diploma in Arts Administration and Cultural Management from Humber College. During her term, she brought forward a motion with Trustee Sriskandarajah on a COVID-19 Recovery Plan, which was subsequently passed unanimously by the Board of Trustees. Rajakulasingam has also been endorsed by the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. She commits to continuing her work addressing gaps in learning caused by the pandemic, student safety, and the engagement of parents and caregivers. She also wants to continue her advocacy for more programming, access for underserved communities, and culturally relevant mental health supports for students.

Grant Xiong is a realtor with Right at Home Realty. According to his website, he was also previously a university teacher. He is interested in supporting and expanding existing specialised programs, and creating new after school programs in areas such as tutoring, sports, art, coding, and occupational skill training. Xiong also wants to ensure more mental health support, air-filtration systems, and an action plan to prevent incidents of violence in order to increase the safety and wellbeing of staff and students.

Sonny Yeung previously ran in the 2018 Municipal elections as a TDSB Trustee candidate where he placed fifth of six, and in the 2016 TDSB by-election for Ward 21 where he placed eighth of twenty. He also ran for the office of TDSB trustee for Ward 22 (Scarborough East) and Ward 17 (Don Valley East) in 2010 and 2014. In a 2018 profile he submitted to Toronto.com, Yeung described himself as a project manager with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.

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

Garry Tanuan is the incumbent Trustee for Ward 8, holding office since the 2012 by-election. He also sits on the board of directors for the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association. Tanuan’s TCDSB bio states that he was a consultant and project manager for over 20 years in industries like finance, biotech, clinical research and education, and has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Silliman University. It also notes Tanuan’s involvement as a representative for Cardinal Leger Catholic School with the Toronto Association of Parents in Catholic Education (TAPCE), and as a Ward 8 representative for the Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (CPIC). In 2013, Tanuan brought forward a motion for the TCDSB to resist the Ontario Accepting Schools Act mandating boards to allow student gay-straight alliance groups and activities. As part of this motion he expressed his concern with it promoting “a positive view of homosexuality.” Tanuan also voted against a motion in 2019 to amend the Code of Conduct to adopt the terms marital status, family status, gender identity, and gender expression, and in 2021, against a motion to proclaim June as Pride month and fly a Pride flag at TCDSB schools.

On his website, Robert Wicik writes he has over 25 years of experience in the electronics industry providing engineering support and contributing to a number of projects. He also shares that he holds a Bachelor’s of Engineering from Ryerson University. Wicik formerly ran for Ward 8 TCDSB trustee in the 2014 municipal election, having placed third out of three. While his platform isn’t detailed, he emphasizes fostering inclusion, respect for all, safety, accountability and transparency. In 2014, Wicik signed an accountability pledge for that year’s election to improve the analysis of the budget regarding repairs of schools, sponsored by the Toronto Taxpayers Coalition.

Benoit Fortin is the incumbent trustee for Conseil scolaire Viamonde Ward 2 – Est. He has held office since 2018, and has been elected by acclamation in this year’s election given he was running unopposed. Fortin is the founding member and Vice President of Development in Africa and India of Skypower, which develops, funds and runs utility-scale renewable power projects internationally. He is also vice-president of the Association des conseils scolaires des écoles publiques de l’Ontario board of directors, which represents all French-language public school boards in the province. While there is limited information about his priorities, Fortin has commented publicly as vice-president of the board on the importance of keeping students in the francophone school system until grade 12 and of meeting the specific needs of a growing francophone community following an announcement of funding from the Ontario government to build a new school.

The City Clerk has voided the election for the MonAvenir school board in this ward. The election will not take place on October 24 and a by-election will be held at a later date.

The City Clerk has voided the election for the MonAvenir school board in this ward. The election will not take place on October 24 and a by-election will be held at a later date. In an email to parents sent on October 21, Rawdat said he was ending his campaign. Read more about ineligible trustees running in French-language schools.

The City Clerk has voided the election for the MonAvenir school board in this ward. The election will not take place on October 24 and a by-election will be held at a later date. On October 21, Wilson notified the city clerk that he is not eligible to hold office. Read more about ineligible trustees running in French-language schools.