Who is Jennifer McKelvie? Deputy mayor takes charge at Toronto city hall

When Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie spoke to reporters immediately after John Tory gave his farewell as mayor to the city on Friday, she said out loud: "Are they all going to be like this?"

McKelvie was in the midst of answering questions. She was visibly nervous and had admitted to being emotional about Tory's abrupt resignation.

The questions, however, were pointed. Toronto had just lost its mayor after it was revealed that Tory, a married man, had a relationship with a much younger woman who once worked in his office. Also, the city's budget had just passed.

And now, Toronto residents would like to know: Who is Jennifer McKelvie? What is McKelvie going to do as deputy mayor in the next few months as the city moves toward a byelection that will replace Tory?

The 46-year-old is now in the spotlight because of recent events, but has already indicated she plans to focus on "good governance" and keep a steady course. She has said she is not going to run for mayor.

Appointed deputy mayor last November, McKelvie is councillor for Scarborough Rouge-Park, Ward 25, a ward that she and her family have lived in since 2005. She won the ward in the Oct. 24, 2022 municipal election handily, receiving 14,168 votes. She received 10,719 votes more than second place finisher Jacinta Kanakaratnam.

McKelvie was first elected councillor for Scarborough-Rouge in October 2018. But that election was a much tighter race. She received 11,624 votes, only 154 votes more than second place finisher Neethan Shan, the incumbent, the first Tamil Canadian to sit on council.

Her electoral victories followed an unsuccessful bid for a city council seat in 2014 in what was called Scarborough East.

In a news release on Wednesday, the city said, following a mayor's resignation, the deputy mayor assumes certain mayoral "rights, powers and authorities" until a by-election is complete.

McKelvie will remain deputy mayor while the mayor's office is vacant. "The Deputy Mayor does not become the 'Acting Mayor' or 'Interim Mayor'," the release says.

According to the Ontario government, strong mayor powers are not transferred to a deputy mayor.

Currently, McKelvie is chair of the city's infrastructure and environment committee and of the Scarborough community council. She is vice-chair of the city's executive committee, a member of the Toronto Zoo board and sits on the board of directors of Toronto Hydro.

McKelvie grew up and lives in Scarborough. She has roots in the city's easternmost borough and is a booster for the area, which was once a city in its own right.

In terms of service, she was the first president of the Scarborough Community Renewal Organization, from 2016 to 2018. The organization is a group of community volunteers who seek to renew Scarborough by advocating economic development, better suburban planning, enhanced natural environment, social development and health promotion, arts and culture. It was launched by the five Rotary clubs of Scarborough.