Cynthia Lai (/laɪ/ LY; Chinese: 封賴桂霞; pinyin: Fēnglài Guìxiá; October 19, 1954 – October 21, 2022) was a Canadian politician who represented Ward 23 Scarborough North on the Toronto City Council from 2018 to 2022.
Cynthia Lai | |
|---|---|
封賴桂霞 | |
| Toronto City Councillor for Ward 23 Scarborough North | |
| In office December 1, 2018 – October 21, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Ward created |
| Succeeded by | Jamaal Myers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 19, 1954 Hong Kong |
| Died | (aged 68) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Chinese-Canadian |
| Spouse | C. K. Fung |
| Relatives | Tony Wong (cousin) |
| Residence(s) | Toronto, Ontario |
Background
editLai immigrated from Hong Kong and moved to Canada in 1972.[1] Her cousin is Tony Wong, is a former member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and municipal councillor.
Prior to entering politics, Lai worked as a realtor and was president of the Toronto Real Estate Board, the first Chinese-Canadian woman to hold that position.[2]
Political career
editLai was elected to the Toronto City Council in the 2018 municipal election to represent Scarborough North (Ward 23).[2] She served on the council until her death in 2022.
Personal life and death
edit_at_York_Cemetery,_Toronto.jpg)
Lai was hospitalized on October 20 during the 2022 election campaign.[3] She died on October 21, 2022, two days after her 68th birthday and just three days before the municipal election.[4] She had been suffering from gallbladder cancer.[5]
She was interred at York Cemetery in Toronto. Flags at Toronto City Hall, Metro Hall and Toronto civic centres were flown at half-mast, and the Toronto Sign was dimmed in her honour.[5]
Electoral history
edit2018
editWard 23 Scarborough North
edit| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Registration Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cynthia Lai | 5,589 | 27.02% | May 28, 2018 | Endorsed by Toronto Sun.[6] |
| Maggie Chi | 4,137 | 20.00% | June 19, 2018 | Worked as a constituency assistant to former Councillor Chin Lee, Ward 41, for 5 years.[7] Endorsement and support from Chin Lee (former City Councillor), Glen De Baeremaeker (Deputy Mayor for Scarborough), Shaun Chen (Member of Parliament, Scarborough North), Tom Chang (President of the Brimley Forest Community Association), Gary Loughlin (President of the C.D Farqhuarson Community Association).[8] |
| Felicia Samuel | 3,702 | 17.89% | July 25, 2018 | Former provincial NDP candidate. Endorsed by Toronto & York District Labour Council,[9] Progress Toronto,[10] Toronto Star,[11] and NOW magazine.[12] |
| Neethan Saba | 2,808 | 13.57% | July 27, 2018 | |
| James Chow | 1,487 | 7.19% | May 16, 2018 | |
| Ashwani Bhardwaj | 1,259 | 6.09% | July 25, 2018 | |
| Sheraz Khan | 453 | 2.19% | July 27, 2018 | |
| Dameon Halstead | 391 | 1.89% | June 12, 2018 | |
| Mahboob Mian | 335 | 1.62% | July 9, 2018 | |
| Sandeep Srivastava | 273 | 1.32% | June 26, 2018 | |
| Anthony Internicola | 254 | 1.23% | May 8, 2018 |
References
edit- ^ "About Councillor Lai". www.cynthialai.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ a b "Subway backer Cynthia Lai claims open seat in Ward 23, Scarborough North". thestar.com. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ "Toronto councillor campaigning for re-election hospitalized". thestar.com. October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ "Toronto councillor Cynthia Lai, running for re-election, dies". thestar.com. October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Talbot, Michael (October 21, 2022). "Toronto city councillor Cynthia Lai dies at age 68". CityNews. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ "Toronto Sun endorsements for city council". October 21, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
- ^ "Wide open Scarborough North race draws diverse array of candidates | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
- ^ "Maggie Chi for Ward 44 City Councillor". Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Endorsements 2018" (PDF). Toronto & York Region Labour Council. October 16, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- ^ "Council Ward 23 – Scarborough North". Progress Toronto. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- ^ "These are the council members Toronto needs". Toronto Star. October 16, 2018.
- ^ DiMatteo, Enzo (October 17, 2018). "Toronto Election 2018: A voter's guide to the good, bad, ugly and progressive choices for council". NOW Magazine. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2019.