Scarborough ward election results: Jamaal Myers will be a new face on council

Jamaal Myers will become Scarborough's only new councillor following Monday's municipal election.

Myers won in Scarborough North, which had been represented by Cynthia Lai until her death last week.

Speaking Tuesday on CBC Radio's Metro Morning, Myers called his victory "bittersweet" as he paid tribute to Lai, who he described as a "a trailblazer." 

"She was loved by many, many people in our community. We obviously had very different visions of where we wanted to take the community, but I never doubted that she sincerely wanted what was best for people," Myers said.

Per the city's election rules, Lai's name was still on the ballot, but votes for her will not be counted and will appear as zero in any official results. Signage was also been posted outside community centres and other voting sites about the change.

You don't have to explain what it's like to worry about getting hit by a car while riding your bike. I was hit by a car last month riding my bike.- Jamaal Myers, new councillor for Scarborough North

Meanwhile, Myers said it's exciting to him that Scarborough residents have elected someone who represents their lived experience. "Now we have someone who understands," he said.

"You don't have to explain what it's like to take transit for an hour-and-a-half each way to get to work, because that's what I do," he said.

"You don't have to explain what it's like to be priced out of your own neighborhood … you don't have to explain what it's like to worry about getting hit by a car while riding your bike. I was hit by a car last month riding my bike," Myers added. 

He said he will bring these experiences to city hall and make sure they front and centre are not neglected.

"It's a big deal for a lot of people," Myers said.

Elsewhere, Michael Thompson won re-election in Scarborough Centre despite facing sexual assault charges. Thompson has asserted his innocence. 

Gary Crawford, Mayor John Tory's budget chief, holds a slim lead over Parthi Kandavel in Scarborough Southwest in a race that remains to close to call as of 11 p.m. Monday. Two other candidates, Kevin Rupasinghe and Lorenzo Berardinetti, may have affected the final outcome as both candidates pulled double-digit support.

Further east, Jennifer McKelvie and Paul Ainslie won with the support of more than 70 per cent of the voters in their respective wards.

Nick Mantas, first elected in a byelection to replace Jim Karygiannis during the last term of council, won in Scarborough-Agincourt.

Follow the results live below.