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Jennifer McKelvie

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Jennifer McKelvie
McKelvie in 2023
Deputy Mayor of Toronto
for Scarborough[note 1]
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 16, 2022
MayorJohn Tory
Olivia Chow
Preceded byDenzil Minnan-Wong (statutory)
Michael Thompson (Scarborough; 2022)
Toronto City Councillor
for Ward 25 Scarborough—Rouge Park
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 1, 2018
Preceded byWard established
Personal details
Born
Jennifer Gray

1977 (age 46–47)
East York, Ontario, Canada
Children2
Residence(s)Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Politician
  • geoscientist
Websitewww.jennifermckelvie.ca

Jennifer McKelvie (née Gray; born 1977) is a Canadian politician and geoscientist who has served as deputy mayor of Toronto since November 16, 2022, representing Scarborough. McKelvie has represented Ward 25 Scarborough—Rouge Park on the Toronto City Council since 2018.

In the 2014 Toronto municipal election, she was a candidate in the now defunct Ward 44, and came within less than 600 votes of defeating then long-time incumbent Ron Moeser.[1] Ron Moeser died before the following election.

As the statutory deputy mayor, McKelvie assumed certain mayoral powers following the resignation of John Tory on February 17, 2023, and remained the highest-ranking official in the city until the swearing-in of Olivia Chow as mayor on July 12, 2023, following the 2023 Toronto mayoral by-election. Under Chow, McKelvie has continued in her role as deputy mayor, serving in an honorary capacity and representing Scarborough.

Early life and family

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Born in 1977 as Jennifer Gray[2] in East York, and lived her early years in an apartment complex on the North York-Scarborough border. She attended two Toronto Catholic District School Board institutions: Precious Blood Catholic School where she attended their French immersion program,[3] and Senator O'Connor College School where she graduated.[citation needed]

She lives in Ward 25 with her husband, and her two children.[citation needed]

Academic career

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An environmental geoscientist, she received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Toronto Scarborough and her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Toronto in geology, with research specializing in geochemistry, environmental remediation, and biochemistry. Her academic mentor and supervisor was Barbara Sherwood Lollar.[4]

McKelvie's academic work has been recognized and supported by the L’Oréal UNESCO Women in Science Fellowship, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. She has co-authored more than twenty peer-reviewed scientific journal publications, which have been referenced more than 1200 times.[5] Prior to her election, McKelvie worked as an environmental geoscientist and researcher. For almost a decade, she served as a senior scientist at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, and as a research director at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.[6][7] She was registered as a Professional Geoscientist (P. Geo) with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario.[8]

Community service

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McKelvie was the first president of the Scarborough Community Renewal Organization, and was president of the Centennial Community & Recreation Association. In both of these capacities she fought for renewal and investment in Scarborough. McKelvie also served as a member of the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus Council, and as a citizen member of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).[9]

Her community service has been recognized by the Scarborough Rotary Clubs, who awarded her with the Paul Harris Fellow award in 2017. She has also received awards recognizing her leadership from the province of Ontario and was named a 150 Neighbour by the University of Toronto Scarborough.[10]

Political career

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McKelvie currently serves as Chair of Toronto's Infrastructure and Environment Committee. She also serves on Scarborough's Community Council, the Toronto Hydro Corporation Board of Directors and the Toronto Zoo Board of Management.[11]

Enhancing public transit, protecting the environment and creating employment opportunities in Scarborough, were her key electoral priorities. She also derided the post-amalgamation shift of public investment and municipal jobs out of Scarborough to Toronto's downtown core.[12]

Following the resignation of John Tory on February 17, 2023, McKelvie assumed certain powers of the mayor of Toronto until Mayor Olivia Chow took office on July 12, following the 2023 mayoral by-election.[13][14][15][16] McKelvie endorsed former deputy mayor and city councillor Ana Bailão to succeed Tory. However, she finished second in the election.[17]

Electoral record

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2022 Toronto election, Ward 25[18]
Candidate Votes %
Jennifer McKelvie 14,168 72.28%
Jacinta Kanakaratnam 3,449 17.60%
Ashan Fernando 1,984 10.12%
Total 19,601 100%
2018 Toronto election, Ward 25[19]
Candidate Votes %
Jennifer McKelvie 11,624 40.21%
Neethan Shan 11,470 39.68%
Paul Cookson 1,897 6.56%
Amanda Cain 831 2.87%
Total 28,970 100%
2014 Toronto election, Ward 44[20]
Candidate Votes %
Ron Moeser 6,416 25.73%
Jennifer McKelvie 5,844 23.44%
Diana Hall 5,530 22.18%
Amarjeet Chhabra 2,852 11.44%
Total 24,934 100%

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ McKelvie was the only and statutory deputy mayor between November 16, 2022, and August 10, 2023. Since August 10, 2023, she holds the position in an honorary capacity, representing Scarborough.

Citations

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  1. ^ Palamarchuk, Andrew (October 31, 2014). "Second-place finisher McKelvie reflects on close race in Ward 44". Toronto.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  2. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (September 1, 2022). "Search Results – Theses Canada". library-archives.canada.ca. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  3. ^ ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Politique- (August 31, 2019). "Jennifer McKelvie à la barre du Comité consultatif des affaires francophones de Toronto". Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "Barbara Sherwood Lollar, diviner of ancient water, wins top Canadian science prize". The Globe and Mail. May 6, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  5. ^ "Jennifer McKelvie - Google Scholar Citations". scholar.google.ca. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  6. ^ mc (February 24, 2018). "NNL reviews Canada's microbiologically influenced corrosion research program". National Nuclear Laboratory. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  7. ^ The Canadian Press (February 11, 2023). "Who is Jennifer McKelvie? Likely interim mayor's work spans from science to politics". The National Post. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "Registrants". Professional Geoscientists Ontario. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "Who is Jennifer McKelvie? What we know about the councillor poised to take over as Toronto mayor". Toronto. February 10, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  10. ^ "Dr. Jennifer McKelvie". 150 Neighbours. June 30, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  11. ^ "Councillor Jennifer McKelvie". City of Toronto. December 1, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  12. ^ Adler, Mike (September 25, 2019). "Toronto will move staff to Etobicoke and Scarborough civic centres". Toronto.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  13. ^ Aguilar, Bryann (February 15, 2023). "John Tory formally resigns as mayor of Toronto". ctvnews. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "Toronto Mayor John Tory is resigning. So what happens now?". CBC News. February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  15. ^ "Toronto Mayor John Tory steps down after admitting relationship with staffer". CBC News. February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  16. ^ "Who is Jennifer McKelvie? What we know of the Scarborough councillor poised to take over as mayor". CP24. February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  17. ^ "Deputy mayor breaks pledge to stay out of Toronto mayoral election, backs a candidate". Toronto Star. July 19, 2023.
  18. ^ "Final declaration of the results for the 2022 Toronto Municipal Election" (PDF). toronto.ca. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  19. ^ "A look at the 2018 Toronto election results, ward by ward". Toronto City Council. October 22, 2018.
  20. ^ "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Council. October 30, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
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