| Cynthia Lai | |
| Native Name: | 封賴桂霞 |
| Native Name Lang: | zh |
| Office1: | Toronto City Councillor for Ward 23 Scarborough North |
| Term Start1: | December 1, 2018 |
| Term End1: | October 21, 2022 |
| Preceded1: | Ward created |
| Succeeded1: | Jamaal Myers |
| Birth Date: | 19 October 1954 |
| Birth Place: | Hong Kong |
| Death Place: | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Residence: | Toronto, Ontario |
| Nationality: | Chinese-Canadian |
| Spouse: | C. K. Fung |
| Relatives: | Tony Wong (cousin) |
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.
Lai immigrated from Hong Kong and moved to Canada in 1972.[1] Her cousin is Tony Wong, is a former member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and municipal councillor.
Prior to entering politics, Lai worked as a realtor and was president of the Toronto Real Estate Board, the first Chinese-Canadian woman to hold that position.
Lai was elected to the Toronto City Council in the 2018 municipal election to represent Scarborough North (Ward 23).[2] She served on the council until her death in 2022.
Lai was hospitalized on October 20 during the 2022 election campaign.[3] She died on October 21, 2022, two days after her 68th birthday and just three days before the municipal election.[4] She had been suffering from gallbladder cancer.[5]
She 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.
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Registration Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cynthia Lai | 5,589 | 27.02% | May 28, 2018 | Endorsed by Toronto Sun.[6] |
| Maggie Chi | 4,137 | 20.00% | June 19, 2018 | Worked as a constituency assistant to former Councillor Chin Lee, Ward 41, for 5 years.[7] 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).[8] |
| Felicia Samuel | 3,702 | 17.89% | July 25, 2018 | Former provincial NDP candidate. Endorsed by Toronto & York District Labour Council,[9] Progress Toronto,[10] Toronto Star,[11] and NOW magazine.[12] |
| Neethan Saba | 2,808 | 13.57% | July 27, 2018 | |
| James Chow | 1,487 | 7.19% | May 16, 2018 | |
| Ashwani Bhardwaj | 1,259 | 6.09% | July 25, 2018 | |
| Sheraz Khan | 453 | 2.19% | July 27, 2018 | |
| Dameon Halstead | 391 | 1.89% | June 12, 2018 | |
| Mahboob Mian | 335 | 1.62% | July 9, 2018 | |
| Sandeep Srivastava | 273 | 1.32% | June 26, 2018 | |
| Anthony Internicola | 254 | 1.23% | May 8, 2018 | |