There was little change in the October 26 election results
Scarborough voters appear largely happy with their current representation, based on the election results from October 26.
While change may come in terms of policies and priorities, there will not be much different when it comes to who is representing Scarborough residents on Toronto city council. Although there is change when it comes to school trustees.
The only incumbent loss was in Scarborough North, where Shaun Chen beat Jamaal Myers
Long-time councillors Michael Thompson and Paul Ainslie by wide margins. Nick Mantas first won in Scarborough – Agincourt in closely fought 2021 by-election to replace his boss, former councillor Jim Karygiannis. But since then he has secured easy re-election victories.
The only incumbent loss was in Scarborough North, where one-term councillor and former TTC board chairman Jamaal Myers lost to Shaun Chen, who was the Liberal MP in the riding for the past decade.
Chen secured 9828 votes to Myers’ 6943. When Myers won in 2022, it is largely believed that he was victory was based on the fact that popular incumbent Cynthia Lai sadly passed away only a few days before the election.
Polling had suggested incumbents in Scarborough Southwest and Scarborough Rouge Park would face an uphill battle for re-election, but they ultimately prevailed.
In Scarborough Southwest, Councillor Parthi Kandavel faced a tough rematch against Kevin Rupasinghe, who placed second last time in the 2023 by-election that Kandavel first won. But Kandavel still won by 2,000.
Likewise, a rematch from a 2025 by-election occurred in Rouge Park — with businessman Shawn Allen returning to challenge incumbent Neethan Shan. But Shan ultimately prevailed.
It’s on the trustee front that change has come. But it didn’t just come in terms of who is serving – but what makes up the ward boundaries. Prior to the election, the provincial government effectively sidelined trustees by placing the Toronto District School Board under supervision and cutting the number of trustees in half. Each trustee was in fact campaigning for two wards — to represent double the territory of a councillor.
The only returning Scarborough trustee is Anu Sriskandarajah.
The others either ran for council or opted not to seek re-election. Ravicha Ravinthiran is profiled elsewhere in the pages of this edition.
The TDSB still remains under supervision and it is unclear if and when the provincial government will change this structure.
