Neethan Shan is currently the Chair of the Toronto District School Board.
21 Facts About Neethan Shan
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2.
Neethan Shan was elected to the TDSB in 2016 and again in 2022.
3.
Neethan Shan has sought public office 13 times since 2003; 8 of which were municipally and provincially, 5.
4.
Neethan Shan won 4 times: YRDSB Trustee in 2006, TDSB Trustee in 2016, Toronto City Councillor in 2017 and TDSB Trustee in 2022.
5.
Neethan Shan was born on December 24,1978, in Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka.
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Neethan Shan's father was from Neduntivu and his mother from Analaitivu.
7.
Neethan Shan moved to Canada as a refugee in 1995 aged 16.
8.
Neethan Shan was a candidate for the Ontario NDP in 2023.
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Neethan Shan completed an honours bachelor of science from the University of Toronto in 2001 and a bachelor of education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in 2003.
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Neethan Shan later received a master of education in sociology and equity studies in education from OISE in 2012.
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Neethan Shan began his career as a youth outreach worker in Malvern, Toronto.
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Neethan Shan then became manager of youth programs at Malvern Family Resource Centre.
13.
Neethan Shan was vice-chair of the National Council of Canadian Tamils and chair of the Tamil Heritage Month Committee, which he founded in 2009.
14.
Neethan Shan has served numerous other community groups including Better Ballot Initiative; Boreal Institute for Civil Society ; Canadian Tamil Congress; Community Use of Schools Council; Malvern Community Coalition; Parent Action on Drugs ; Scarborough Youth Task Group; Tsunami Relief Coordinating Committee; and the Youth Gang Work Group.
15.
Neethan Shan is involved with Canadian Multicultural Radio and Tamil Vision International.
16.
Neethan Shan unsuccessfully ran for York Region District School Board public school trustee for wards 7 and 8 in the 2003 Markham elections.
17.
Neethan Shan was later elected to the school board following the 2006 Markham election.
18.
Neethan Shan assumed the trustee seat for Ward 17 in June 2022 after David Smith became the MPP for Scarborough Centre.
19.
Neethan Shan was nominated as the Ontario New Democratic Party candidate in the provincial riding of Scarborough Centre for the 2022 Ontario general election, but again failed to win.
20.
Neethan Shan ran again in the 2014 Toronto municipal election.
21.
Neethan Shan was ultimately defeated by newcomer Jennifer McKelvie by 154 votes.