Rachel Chernos Lin wins Don Valley West by-election to become Toronto’s newest city councillor

Rachel Chernos Lin will become the new city council member for Toronto’s Ward 15 – Don Valley West following the by-election on Monday.

With all polls reporting, the unofficial results show Chernos Lin received 54.76 per cent of the vote or just over 12,800 votes, trailed by Anthony Furey with just over 7,300 votes.

Chernos Lin is a trustee and chair of the Toronto District School Board who was endorsed by Liberals like former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and MP Rob Oliphant, who represents the Don Valley West riding in the House of Commons.

Mayor Olivia Chow congratulated Chernos Lin, saying she “knows we can work together to deliver more for the people of Don Valley West and all Torontonians,” in a social media post.

A total of 16 candidates were registered to be on the ballot, however polling had shown a close race between Chernos Lin and Furey.

Furey is a former columnist and editor of the Toronto Sun, who ran for mayor of Toronto in 2023. He gained the endorsement of Conservatives like Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce.

The byelection comes after the death of councillor Jaye Robinson following a battle with cancer back in May. Robinson represented the ward for nearly 14 years.

Both candidates were spotted canvassing local neighbourhoods over the weekend in a final push for votes before election day.

Out near Wanless Park, north of Lawrence Avenue, Furey said he is committed to being a voice for “common sense” policies at City Hall.

“Public safety, fiscal accountability, getting traffic moving, these are the things that families in Don Valley West and across Toronto tell me they want to see a focus on,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chernos Lin was out near East York Town Centre on Overlea Boulevard where she reiterated her message of being a strong local voice who is hoping to tackle big ticket issues like traffic, crime and urban development.

“We have an awful lot of applications for 46 storey towers especially around the Bayview area without planned infrastructure to go with that,” she said.

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