Cynthia Lai (October 19, 1954 – October 21, 2022) was a Canadian politician who represented Ward 23 Scarborough North on the Toronto City Council from 2018 to 2022.
Background Born in British Hong Kong, Lai immigrated to Canada in 1972. She worked as a realtor prior to entering politics, managing a Royal LePage branch in Scarborough before founding the Global Link Realty Group. She had also served as president of the Toronto Real Estate Board, the first Hong Kong-Canadian woman to hold that position, and was appointed to the City of Toronto's Committee of Adjustment (Scarborough Panel) in 2011. Lai received the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Medal and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.
She and her husband C. K. Fung had two sons. Her cousin Tony Wong was a former member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and municipal councillor in Markham.
Political career and death Following the resignation of Scarborough—Rouge River MPP Alvin Curling, Lai contested the by-election held on November 24, 2005, as a Progressive Conservative candidate. She came in second place with 24% of the vote, behind Liberal Bas Balkissoon.
In the 2014 municipal election, Lai ran for Toronto City Council in Ward 41 Scarborough-Rouge River, but lost to incumbent councillor Chin Lee. She ran for council again in the 2018 municipal election, this time defeating Maggie Chi to become councillor for Ward 23 Scarborough North. She was appointed to the board of the Toronto Transit Commission in October 2020.
Lai was hospitalized on October 20 during the 2022 election campaign; she had been suffering from gallbladder cancer. She died on October 21, 2022, two days after her 68th birthday and just three days before the municipal election, and was interred at York Cemetery in Toronto. Flags at Toronto City Hall, Metro Hall and Toronto civic centres were flown at half-mast, and the Toronto Sign was dimmed in her honour.
In 2025, the City of Toronto renamed Rosebank Park in Scarborough to Cynthia Lai Park in her honour.
Electoral history Municipal 2018 Toronto municipal election Ward 23 Scarborough North
Candidate Votes Percentage Registration Date NotesCynthia Lai5,58927.02%May 28, 2018 Endorsed by Toronto Sun.Maggie Chi4,13720.00%June 19, 2018 Worked as a constituency assistant to former Councillor Chin Lee, Ward 41, for 5 years. Endorsement and support from Chin Lee (former City Councillor), Glen De Baeremaeker (Deputy Mayor for Scarborough), Shaun Chen (Member of Parliament, Scarborough North), Tom Chang (President of the Brimley Forest Community Association), Gary Loughlin (President of the C.D Farqhuarson Community Association).Felicia Samuel 3,70217.89%July 25, 2018Former provincial NDP candidate. Endorsed by Toronto & York District Labour Council, Progress Toronto, Toronto Star, and NOW magazine.Neethan Saba2,80813.57%July 27, 2018 James Chow 1,4877.19%May 16, 2018 Ashwani Bhardwaj1,2596.09%July 25, 2018 Sheraz Khan4532.19%July 27, 2018 Dameon Halstead3911.89%June 12, 2018 Mahboob Mian3351.62%July 9, 2018 Sandeep Srivastava2731.32%June 26, 2018 Anthony Internicola 2541.23%May 8, 2018
Provincial Ontario by-election, November 24, 2005Scarborough—Rouge RiverPartyCandidateVotes%+/-
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