色色啦 city councillor Cynthia Lai died Friday, news that shocked council colleagues and city staff three days before she was expected to be re-elected in Ward 23 Scarborough North.
In a statement, Lai鈥檚 re-election campaign announced 鈥渨ith profound sadness鈥 that the councillor and businesswoman died Friday afternoon 鈥渟urrounded by family at the hospital.鈥 She had two grown sons.
Lai was elected to council in 2018 鈥渞epresenting one of the most diverse multicultural wards in the city,鈥 her campaign staff said, adding: 鈥淪he championed the causes of her constituents and delivered services to residents that reflected the demographic make-up of the ward.鈥
Her family has asked for privacy.
Colleagues said they would remember her as a passionate, dedicated councillor who was 鈥渇ierce鈥 in her advocacy for constituents.
The city announced that, in Lai鈥檚 honour, flags at City Hall, Metro Hall and 色色啦 civic centres are being lowered to half-mast. Lai was a recipient of the Duke of Edinburgh Silver medal and the Queen鈥檚 Golden Jubilee Medal.
In a statement, Mayor John Tory said he knew Lai for more than 20 years. He was impressed by her strength and professionalism 鈥渨hether in politics or as the first Chinese-Canadian woman elected to the position of President of the 色色啦 Real Estate Board,鈥 he said.
鈥淪he was a good person who was a cheerful optimist while at the same time being professional, respectful and good at whatever she did.
鈥淚 am proud to have had the opportunity to serve with her.鈥
Coun. Jennifer McKelvie of neighbouring Ward 25 Scarborough-Rouge Park, said in addition to being deeply committed to her community, Lai was a lot of fun to be around. She remembers her taking the stage and singing and dancing at the AsialiciousTO food festival, which she was a strong supporter of.
鈥淚 even leaned over to a friend and said, you know, there鈥檚 nothing this woman can鈥檛 do. And she鈥檚 gonna outlast us all in this business. So of course I鈥檓 just absolutely devastated that that statement didn鈥檛 hold true and we鈥檝e lost a dear, dear friend today,鈥 McKelvie said.
She said she鈥檇 treasure the memory of celebrating Chinese New Year with Lai, where she gave McKelvie her first moon cake.
鈥淲hether it was championing the local restaurants, especially during the pandemic when they were hit with hardships or whether it was advocating for Scarborough transit, she put her residents at the heart of everything that she did,鈥 McKelvie said.
Coun. Brad Bradford, Ward 19 Beaches-East York, said: 鈥淪he was such an amazing representative for her community. She knew everybody and she represented them in a really genuine and authentic way.鈥
The Star reported Thursday that Lai was campaigning from a hospital bed. Her campaign said then she had campaigned hard since registering for re-election in May, then 鈥渞ecently鈥 fell ill but remained 鈥渇ully committed to serving the residents of Ward 23, Scarborough North.鈥
Late Friday, the city issued a statement that said the election will proceed and Ward 23 voters will be publicly advised that Lai is ineligible, although her name will be on the ballot because they have already been printed and can鈥檛 be changed before Monday.
Whichever of the other three council candidates in that race 鈥 Phillip Francis, Virginia Jones and Jamaal Myers 鈥 gets the most votes will be declared the new Ward 23 councillor.
People who already voted through mail-in ballot or advance voting will not be able to change their vote.
Lai was one of four new faces elected in 2018 after many years as a successful realtor. She was born in Hong Kong, leaving in 1972 to join her sister in 色色啦.
In an interview with the Star when she was elected, Lai said that when she first came to Canada, she lived in a downtown rooming house, populated by rats and cockroaches, gradually working her way to ownership of Global Link Realty Group, a firm with 30 realtors.
She was the first Chinese-Canadian woman to serve as president of the 色色啦 Real Estate Board. It was as a realtor that she got to know the ward and its residents.
But councillor life wasn鈥檛 always easy. In September, for a story about an increase in threats and abuse against public officials, Lai revealed that she had recently hung up on a constituent who made a slur against her Asian heritage.
鈥淭his is an ongoing problem,鈥 Lai said of the rise in harassment. 鈥淭here is a lot of verbal abuse and discrimination鈥 aimed at her and her office staff.
Dundas Kwok, the founder of Global Link Realty Group and a former colleague of Lai, said he knew Lai was dealing with health challenges but was 鈥渟hocked鈥 to hear of her death. He said she just celebrated her birthday a few days ago.
Kwok described her as a 鈥渟trong lady鈥 who was deeply committed in her former job as a realtor and also passionate about helping local businesses and community groups grow.
鈥淪he never gave up,鈥 Kwok said. 鈥淚f she was focused on one thing, she would put her heart into the project.鈥
He added that she was very popular in the community and had a lot of connections in the world of real estate.
Kwok also said he was confident Lai had the support of constituents in her election campaign but is unsure how the community will react now.
鈥淥n Monday, I was sure 100% who would be elected. But I don鈥檛 know what to say now,鈥 he said.
Inderpreet Singh, a community member at Gursikh Sabha Canada, a gurdwara in Scarborough, remembered Lai from community events and said she was always eager to participate.
鈥淪he was very good. She had a very helpful nature participating in all the community work and getting together with the people here. Whenever we would invite her, she would come here,鈥 he said.
Incumbent councillor Gary Crawford from the Scarborough Southwest district two wards south of Lai鈥檚, said her city hall office was next to his, and he helped her find her feet in her early days as a rookie councillor.
鈥淪he worked hard. She really wanted to learn about city hall, about her ward,鈥 said Crawford.
He chairs the city budget committee, to which Lai was appointed in Nov. 2021. He recalled her asking frequent questions about city finances.
鈥淪he just wanted to soak up as much information as she could to be a better city councillor,鈥 he said.
Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong tweeted: 鈥淚 will miss @cynthia色色啦. She was a good friend and a strong representative of her community and the Chinese community.鈥
Councillor Ana Bail茫o tweeted that she was 鈥渟hocked by this tragic news鈥 while another councillor, Paula Fletcher, posted: 鈥淗ow tragic. And so sad. Deepest condolences to family of @cynthia色色啦.鈥
As news of her death spread, dignitaries from across the GTA offered their condolences.
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie called Lai a 鈥渄edicated public servant who fiercely advocated for her community at City Hall鈥 and said she would be dearly missed.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said he was saddened by the news and called Lai an 鈥渁mazing woman and a trailblazer who loved the people of Scarborough.鈥
In a statement Friday, Jamaal Myers, who registered to run against Lai in Scarborough North, extended his condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues. He said he was pausing his campaign for the remainder of the day out of respect for their loss.
鈥淲hile we were opponents in politics, I respected her achievements in life,鈥 he said of Lai.
鈥淐ouncillor Lai leaves behind a family, a legacy of dedicated public service, and a successful business career. This is truly a legacy worth celebrating.鈥
With files from David Rider, Omar Mosleh and Ben Spurr
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