The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Chair Neethan Shan has successfully won the byelection to become the new councillor for Scarborough-Rouge Park, replacing Jennifer McKelvie. This election saw Shan triumph over a competitive field of 20 candidates, garnering over 26 percent of the total votes cast.

Anu Sriskandarajah closely followed Shan in the race, finishing second with just over 17.5 percent of the votes. The byelection was necessitated by McKelvie’s resignation, which occurred after she was elected as the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Ajax earlier this year.

Shan is set to represent Ward 25 at Toronto City Council until the next municipal elections, scheduled for October 2026. This marks his return to City Hall, having previously represented Scarborough-Rouge River in 2017, where he also won a byelection in that ward.

In a memorable turn of events, Shan lost to McKelvie in the 2018 municipal elections for Ward 25 by a narrow margin of less than 200 votes. This election was part of a significant reorganization initiated by Premier Doug Ford, which reduced Toronto's city council from 44 wards to just 25.

Beyond his role as a city councillor, Shan has a substantial background in education. He was acclaimed as Chair of the TDSB in November 2024, having first been elected as a trustee for Ward 21 in 2016. In 2022, he returned to the TDSB, representing Ward 17.

In terms of voter engagement for the byelection, a total of 4,376 voters participated by casting their ballots during the advance voting days, which took place on September 20 and 21. This participation reflects a notable level of civic engagement within the community, especially considering the competitive nature of the byelection.

Shan's election signifies a new chapter for both him and the Scarborough-Rouge Park community, paving the way for his contributions and leadership in Toronto's municipal landscape.