Neethan Shan

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]

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 in the Markham municipal elections held in November 2006.[1][13] Taking a leave of absence from the school board, Shan contested the 2007 Ontario general election 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 2010 Toronto municipal election as a candidate for Ward 42 (Scarborough—Rouge River) on Toronto City Council but failed to get elected.[1][15] He contested the 2011 Ontario general election 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 2014 Ontario general election as the NDP's candidate in Scarborough—Rouge River but again failed to get elected.[1] He contested the 2014 Toronto municipal election 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]

Shan was defeated in his reelection bid in the 2018 election by Jennifer McKelvie, with a margin of less than 200 votes.[23]