Neethan Shan is the current Councillor for Scarborough Rouge River. He previously served as Executive Director of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR), and held leadership roles in education as a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Trustee for Scarborough and Chair of the TDSB. From 2006 to 2010, he also served as a Trustee with the York Region District School Board.
Neethan began his career as a Youth Outreach Worker in Malvern, later becoming a manager for youth programs in the area. He developed and implemented over twenty initiatives across various schools. His professional experience includes serving as a Math and Science teacher, college professor, and Executive Director of both the Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre (CanTYD) and the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA).
During his ten-year tenure at CASSA, Neethan advanced health equity for South Asian communities, led campaigns to promote inclusivity in municipalities beyond the GTA, advocated for the creation of a provincial anti-racism directorate, and united over 100 organizations across Ontario to champion social and economic justice for South Asians and other equity-deserving communities.
His extensive involvement in the social services sector includes work with Parent Action on Drugs, the Malvern Community Coalition, the Community Use of Schools Council, and the Scarborough Youth Task Force.
Currently, Neethan continues to advocate for racial justice at all levels of government. He focuses on systemic policy change in education, employment, health, and justice. He has led community campaigns opposing cuts to education, healthcare, and legal aid, and is currently spearheading efforts to ensure post-COVID recovery initiatives are grounded in racial equity.
Neethan has received numerous awards for his human rights advocacy, including the Race Relations Award from UARR and the Vital People Award from the Toronto Community Foundation. As a Toronto City Councillor, he was recognized as the city’s Youth Equity Champion and Newcomer Advocate.
(Information provided by the Councillor)