Ward 25 — Scarborough-Rouge Park

Biography: Shawn Allen is a mortgage broker who founded Matrix Mortgage Global, which was listed by the Financial Post as one of the fastest-growing companies in Canada in 2018 and 2019.

He is also the business and community advisor for the Scarborough Business Association (SBA), serving a two-year term as president of the association prior, which he finished in April 2025. During his time as president, SBA’s growth membership went up by 600 per cent, according to the SBA’s Facebook post.

Allen also founded and organized a conference on affordable housing in Ontario in 2024 and 2025.

In 2023 Allen criticized Toronto for its “underserved” transit systems in Scarborough and its temporary rideshare cap.

Allen ran for city councillor in Ward 25 during the by-election in 2025. He came in third place out of 20 candidates. At the time, he was endorsed by councillor and now-mayoral candidate Brad Bradford and councillor Jon Burnside. He was also endorsed by centre-right advocacy group ABC.

Platform: In a LinkedIn post, Allen says he will not support future property tax hikes. He says on his campaign website that residents should see where their property tax money goes to ensure transparency and accountability.

Allen also says he will keep track on transit times within the ward to make sure that buses run on time. He also underlines the need to create the Eglinton East LRT. He wants to preserve Rouge Park.

Biography: Dharshan Casinathen’s LinkedIn says that he’s a senior manager at Labatt Breweries of Canada.

Platform: Casinathen’s campaign website says he will prioritize safe streets, invest in transit, and make small businesses prosper.

In an Instagram video, Casinathen says potholes in the ward need to be fixed and maintained within the ward. He also says in another video that he will aim to be more transparent when it comes to 311 service requests.

Biography: Ashan Fernando was the president of the West Hill – Highland Creek Lion’s Club, a volunteer-based organization that funds community-centred causes. His campaign website says he’s a board member of the Self Advocacy Council at Surrey Place, a non-profit that supports people with developmental disabilities and autism. Fernando joined the board in 2022.

Fernando ran for the seat in the Ward 25 by-election last year and came in 12th place out of 20 candidates. He has previously run for city council in Ward 25, and for the Liberal nomination for the Scarborough-Rouge River riding in 2016.

In an Instagram post Fernando says that he is “pro-life” and that he is endorsed by the anti-abortion group, Campaign Life Coalition.

Platform: Fernando says he will pledge to have up to $500,000 in funding for “high needs” neighbourhoods.

Fernando says he prioritizes improved roads and transit, affordable housing, and clean parks. He wants to improve safety by making policing more visible.

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 Jannette Lumley. According to LinkedIn, Lumley is a self-employed travel coordinator, a consul for international students at City College Toronto, and a paralegal.

Platform: According to an Instagram post, Lumley will focus on making neighbourhoods safer, supporting youth and seniors, and growing the ward’s local economy. She lists accountable leadership and stronger communities as campaign goals.

Biography: Zakir Patel served as TDSB school trustee for Scarborough-Guildwood from 2018 until 2025, when trustee roles were eliminated after the province put the TDSB and other boards under supervision. He has been vocal in pushing back against provincial supervision. Patel was on several committees within the TDSB, including the Toronto Lands Corporation, and the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee.

During his time as trustee, Patel campaigned for the province to fund the rebuilding of a public school within Ward 19.

Patel was also appointed a board member of the Cedarbrae Markham Lawrence
Business Improvement Area Board of Management in 2025.

Last year Patel ran in the Ward 19 councillor by-election and came fifth out of 20 candidates.

Patel’s LinkedIn says he has a background in real estate.

Platform: If elected, Patel says he will work on maintaining property tax increases to keep them affordable, advocate for “stronger community-based policing and visible neighbourhood presence,” push for more frequent bus routes and connections within Scarborough and between neighbourhoods, and preserve public spaces, including parks, transit stops and streets.

Biography: Dianna Robinson is a real estate broker at Keller Williams Referred Urban Reality. She ran for councillor during the Scarborough-Rouge Park by-election in September, coming in 10th place out of 20 candidates. When she ran, she criticized the city for its “wasteful spending,” and criticized the provincial government for Bill 9, a law that standardized rules across Ontario municipalities for misbehaving politicians.

In 2025 an individual of the same name spoke to the provincial Standing Committee On Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy, regarding her concerns on Bill 9, while also adding that she was the mother of Lisa Robinson, a Pickering city councillor and a member of the People’s Party of Canada. Lisa Robinson has had multiple pay suspensions following multiple misconducts complaints within council.

Robinson ran for school trustee for Ward 22 during the 2022 election, and came in second out of four candidates.

Platform: Robinson does not have a platform at the time of publication.

Biography: Kannan S’ree Jr. is a criminal defence lawyer with his own firm, It Wasn’t Me Law Firm.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication. On Instagram, he posts videos critical of Neethan Shan.

Biography: Neethan Shan was elected to Council less than a year ago in a by-election to replace former Ward 25 — Scarborough-Rouge Park councillor and deputy mayor Jennifer McKelvie, who stepped down to run for federal office. Before winning the seat, Shan ran for office 14 times in 23 years, five of which were successful. He was elected school trustee for the York Region District School Board once and the Toronto District School Board three times; in 2017, he was elected to Toronto City Council in a by-election for what was then Ward 42 (Scarborough—Rouge River) to replace councillor Raymond Cho, who had stepped down to run provincially. Shan has also been president of the Ontario NDP, and executive director of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations and the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians.

He currently sits on Executive Committee, the Economic and Community Development Committee, the boards of the Toronto Zoo and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and is the Mayor’s Designate on the Toronto Hydro Corporation Board of Directors.

This term, Shan unsuccessfully tried to exempt major streets in his ward from neighbourhood retail. He successfully tabled motions to improve access to City-owned spaces for community programs in Scarborough, and properly arrange external funding to improve the Malvern Park tennis courts. Shan also passed motions supporting the Tamil Community Centre, working towards a Filipino Community Centre, proclaiming July as Caribbean Heritage Month and April as Nepali Heritage Month, and proclaiming September 26, 2026 as Cricket Day in Toronto.

Shan is endorsed by the Toronto & York Region Labour Council.

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

Biography: Little information about Vane Stavrev is available online. A LinkedIn page says someone of the same name worked as a volunteer for the Conservative Party of Canada. The Local could not confirm if this is the same person running for candidacy.

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