Neethan Shan

Neethan Shan
நீதன் ஷான்
Toronto City Councillor
Assumed office
February 13, 2017
Preceded by Raymond Cho
Constituency Ward 42 (Scarborough—Rouge River)
Toronto Public School Trustee
In office
January 25, 2016 – February 13, 2017
Preceded by Shaun Chen
Constituency Ward 22 (Scarborough—Rouge River)
York Region Public School Trustee
In office
2006–2010
Succeeded by Juanita Nathan
Constituency Wards 7 and 8
Personal details
Born (1978-12-24) December 24, 1978
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Citizenship Canadian
Political party New Democratic Party
Residence Toronto, Ontario
Alma mater
Ethnicity Sri Lankan Tamil
Website neethanshan.ca

Neethan Shanmugarajah (Tamil: நீதன் சண்முகராஜா, translit. Nītaṉ Caṇmukarājā; born December 24, 1978; commonly known as Neethan Shan) is a Tamil Canadian youth worker and politician. He was elected to Toronto City Council at the by-election held on February 13, 2017, becoming the first Tamil Canadian to serve on the city council.

Early life and family

Shan was born on December 24, 1978 in Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka.[1] His father was from Neduntivu and his mother from Analaitivu.[2][3] He migrated to Canada as a refugee in 1995 aged 16.[1][2][4] Shan has a B.Sc. Honours degree from New College, Toronto (2001) and a B.Ed. degree from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (2003).[1][5][6] He received a M.Ed. in sociology and equity studies in education from the OISE in 2012.[6]

Shan is married to Darsha (Thadsha) Navamanikkam and has two sons (Ellalan and Karikalan).[4][5][7][8]

Career

Shan began his career as a youth outreach worker in Malvern, Toronto.[3][9] In 2001, aged 22, he became executive director of Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre (CanTYD), a social service agency.[6] He then became manager of youth programs at Malvern Family Resource Centre.[6][10][11] In 2007 he became executive director of Council of Agencies Serving South Asians.[1][6]

Shan contested the 2003 Markham municipal elections as a candidate for trustee for wards 7 and 8 on the York Region District School Board but failed to get elected.[1][12] He was however elected to represent wards 7 and 8 as a trustee on the York Region District School Board at the Markham municipal elections held in November 2006.[1][13] Taking a leave of absence from the school board, Shan contested the Ontario general election, 2007 as the New Democratic Party's (NDP) candidate in Scarborough—Guildwood but failed to get elected and returned to the school board.[1][14]

Shan contested the Toronto municipal election, 2010 as a candidate for Ward 42 (Scarborough—Rouge River) on Toronto City Council but failed to get elected.[1][15] He contested the Ontario general election, 2011 as the NDP's candidate in Scarborough—Rouge River but failed to get elected.[1][16] He was elected president of the Ontario NDP in April 2012.[1][2][17]

Shan contested the Ontario general election, 2014 as the NDP's candidate in Scarborough—Rouge River but again failed to get elected.[1] He contested the Toronto municipal election, 2014 as a candidate for Ward 42 (Scarborough—Rouge River) on Toronto City Council but again failed to get elected.[1][18]

Shan contested the by-election for the Toronto District School Board held in January 2016 and was elected as a trustee to represent Ward 21 (Scarborough—Rouge River).[19] He contested the Ontario provincial by-election in Scarborough—Rouge River held in September 2016 as the NDP's candidate but again failed to get elected.[20]

Shan contested the by-election for Toronto City Council held in February 2017 and was elected to represent Ward 42 (Scarborough—Rouge River).[21] He became the first Tamil Canadian to serve on the city council.[4][21]

Shan was vice-chair of the National Council of Canadian Tamils and chair of the Tamil Heritage Month Committee, which he founded in 2009.[2][4][22] He has served numerous other community groups including Better Ballot Initiative; Boreal Institute for Civil Society (project director); Canadian Tamil Congress; Community Use of Schools Council; Malvern Community Coalition; Parent Action on Drugs (project co-ordinator); Scarborough Youth Task Group; Tsunami Relief Coordinating Committee; and the Youth Gang Work Group.[1][6] He is also involved with Canadian Multicultural Radio and Tamil Vision International.[1][3][6]

Electoral record

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Smith Cross, Jessica (May 27, 2016). "Profile: The making of the NDP’s ‘perennial candidate’ Neethan Shan". QP Briefing.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Eezham Tamil activist Neethan Shan elected President of NDP, Ontario". TamilNet. April 16, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 Nathaniel, Camelia (May 18, 2014). "Canada May Be Hoist By Her Own Petard". The Sunday Leader.
  4. 1 2 3 4 DaSilva, Laura (February 24, 2017). "Meet Neethan Shan, Toronto's first Tamil-Canadian councillor". CBC News.
  5. 1 2 "Neethan Shan". Toronto Star. August 15, 2007.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Neethan Shan Nominated to Represent Ontario NDP in Scarborough Rouge River". Seithy. December 17, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Neethan Shan wins Scarborough-Rouge River debate". Tamil CNN. August 30, 2016.
  8. ↑ "We will make Neethan Shan to win the election who is responsible for the change in Rouge River – NPD propaganda agent Andrea Vasichr". Tamil CNN. September 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ Balikssoon, Denise (May 17, 2010). "Malvern group works to get out the October vote". Toronto Star.
  10. ↑ Stuffco, Jered (December 1, 2005). "Man who motivates Malvern gets award". The Globe and Mail.
  11. ↑ "A Community Activist "Stands" for Equitable, Safe, Well-rounded and Community-involved Education". Tamil Canadian. January 3, 2006.
  12. ↑ Keung, Nicholas (October 26, 2003). "Tamils finding their niche in Toronto politics". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  13. ↑ "Diaspora Tamil elected councillor in Markham, Canada". TamilNet. November 18, 2006.
  14. ↑ Lakey, Jack (October 11, 2007). "Scarborough Guildwood: Best puts foot forward as new MPP". Toronto Star.
  15. ↑ "Results: Toronto mayor and city council". Toronto Star. October 25, 2010.
  16. ↑ Monsebraaten, Laurie (October 6, 2011). "Balkissoon rolls to win". Toronto Star.
  17. ↑ Regg Cohn, Martin (April 14, 2012). "Cohn: NDP’s Andrea Horwath breaks convention and exhorts idea of change". Toronto Star.
  18. ↑ Allen, Kate (October 27, 2014). "Raymond Cho reelected in Ward 42, Scarborough—Rouge River". Toronto Star.
  19. ↑ Rushowy, Kristin (January 25, 2016). "Union-backed candidate wins TDSB byelection in Scarborough". Toronto Star.
  20. ↑ Benzie, Robert (September 1, 2016). "Tory Raymond Cho wins Scarborough-Rouge River byelection". Toronto Star.
  21. 1 2 Powell, Betsy (February 13, 2017). "Neethan Shan wins council seat in Scarborough-Rouge River". Toronto Star.
  22. ↑ "Tamil Heritage Month Bill Proposed in Canadian Parliament". TamilNet. February 6, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Markham 2003 Municipal Elections: Registered Candidates". Markham City Council. Archived from the original on October 7, 2006.
  24. ↑ "York Region District School Board - Ward 7 and 8 - Official Results". Markham City Council.
  25. ↑ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate - October 10, 2007 General Election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. xxiii.
  26. ↑ "2010 Poll by Poll Results: Councillor" (PDF). Toronto City Council.
  27. ↑ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate - October 16, 2011 General Election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 16.
  28. ↑ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate - June 12, 2014 General Election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 11.
  29. ↑ "Toronto Election 2014 Poll by Poll Results: Councillor" (PDF). Toronto City Council.
  30. ↑ "2016 By-election Toronto District School Board Ward 21: Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Council.
  31. ↑ "Vote Totals Report from Official Tabulation (F0243) - 2016 By-election Scarborough-Rouge River (083)". Elections Ontario. p. 7.
  32. ↑ "February 13, 2017 By-Election 2014 Poll by Poll Results: Councillor Ward 42" (PDF). Toronto City Council.
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