Cynthia_Lai

Cynthia Lai

Cynthia Lai

Chinese-Canadian politician (1954–2022)

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.

Quick Facts Toronto City Councillor for Ward 23 Scarborough North, Preceded by ...

Background

Lai 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

Lai 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

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

2018

Ward 23 Scarborough North

More information Candidate, Votes ...

References

  1. [1]
    "About Councillor Lai". www.cynthialai.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  2. [2]
    "Subway backer Cynthia Lai claims open seat in Ward 23, Scarborough North". thestar.com. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  3. [3]
    "Toronto councillor campaigning for re-election hospitalized". thestar.com. October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  4. [4]
    "Toronto councillor Cynthia Lai, running for re-election, dies". thestar.com. October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  5. [5]
    Talbot, Michael (October 21, 2022). "Toronto city councillor Cynthia Lai dies at age 68". CityNews. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  6. [6]
    "Toronto Sun endorsements for city council". October 21, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  7. [7]
    "Wide open Scarborough North race draws diverse array of candidates | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  8. [8]
    "Maggie Chi for Ward 44 City Councillor". Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  9. [9]
    "Endorsements 2018" (PDF). Toronto & York Region Labour Council. October 16, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  10. [10]
    "Council Ward 23 – Scarborough North". Progress Toronto. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  11. [11]
    "These are the council members Toronto needs". Toronto Star. October 16, 2018.
  12. [12]
    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.
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