Sheila White (politician)

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For other bearers of this name, see Sheila White

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Sheila White (born ca. 1954) is a Canadian political activist and a member of the New Democratic Party who has run for office four times in Toronto.

White worked as a senior aide to then-North York mayor Mel Lastman from 1985 to 1998, in charge of communications, media and community programs. She was then employed for five years as special advisor to Howard Hampton and the Ontario New Democratic Party and worked as media and communications director for the party's 2003 election campaign. She is currently executive assistant to Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton East, Andrea Horwath. Sheila White has appeared as a commentator on radio and television political panels.

[edit] Scarborough-Rouge River riding

Sheila has twice run as a municipal candidate for Toronto City Council in Scarborough's Ward 44 placing second in the 1999 by-election and 2000 municipal election. She ran federally for the NDP in Scarborough—Guildwood in the 2004 federal election. She was also the NDP candidate in the provincial Scarborough—Rouge River by-election to replace Alvin Curling.

The riding was won by Toronto city councillor Bas Balkissoon with 58% of the vote. White captured 15% of the vote, finishing third behind Progressive Conservative candidate Cynthia Lai with 24% of the vote. A snowstorm caused the worst voter turnout in 30 years. Only 19% of voters cast a ballot. She ran again in Scarborough—Rouge River as the NDP candidate in the 2007 provincial election.

[edit] Family history

White is the daughter of a mixed race couple. Her father, Order of Canada recipient Bill White, was a longtime member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and ran as the party's candidate in Spadina in the 1949 federal election, becoming the first Black Canadian to run for federal office. She is also a cousin of Canadian Senator Donald Oliver and writer George Elliott Clarke, niece of singer Portia White and labour union activist Jack White, and granddaughter of clergyman William A. White, who, during World War I, became the first Black officer in British North America. He led the Second Construction Battalion as chaplain, the only black chaplain in the entire British Army.