Jennifer McKelvie
{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jennifer McKelvie
| image = Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie April 2024.jpg
| alt =
| caption = McKelvie in 2023
| office1 = Deputy Mayor of Toronto
for ScarboroughMcKelvie was the only and statutory deputy mayor between November 16, 2022, and August 10, 2023. Since August 10, 2023, she holds the position in an honorary capacity, representing Scarborough.
| term_start1 = November 16, 2022
| term_end1 =
| preceded1 = Denzil Minnan-Wong (statutory)
Michael Thompson (Scarborough; 2022)
| office2 = Toronto City Councillor
for Ward 25 Scarborough—Rouge Park
| term_start2 = December 1, 2018
| term_end2 =
| preceded2 = Ward established
| birth_name = Jennifer Gray
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1977}}
| birth_place = East York, Ontario, Canada
| residence = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| children = 2
| party = Liberal (federal)
Independent (municipal)
| alma_mater = {{plainlist|
}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|geoscientist}}
| website = {{URL|www.jennifermckelvie.ca}}
| 1blankname1 = Mayor
| 1namedata1 = John Tory
Olivia Chow
}}
Jennifer McKelvie ({{nee}} Gray; born 1977) is a Canadian politician and geoscientist who has served as deputy mayor of Toronto since November 16, 2022, representing Scarborough. McKelvie has represented Ward 25 Scarborough—Rouge Park on the Toronto City Council since 2018.
In the 2014 Toronto municipal election, she was a candidate in the now defunct Ward 44, and came within less than 600 votes of defeating then long-time incumbent Ron Moeser.{{Cite web|url=https://www.toronto.com/news-story/4954669-second-place-finisher-mckelvie-reflects-on-close-race-in-ward-44/|title=Second-place finisher McKelvie reflects on close race in Ward 44|last=Palamarchuk|first=Andrew|date=2014-10-31|website=Toronto.com|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-11-19}} Ron Moeser died before the following election.
As the statutory deputy mayor, McKelvie assumed certain mayoral powers following the resignation of John Tory on February 17, 2023, and remained the highest-ranking official in the city until the swearing-in of Olivia Chow as mayor on July 12, 2023, following the 2023 Toronto mayoral by-election. Under Chow, McKelvie has continued in her role as deputy mayor, serving in an honorary capacity and representing Scarborough.
Early life and family
Born in 1977 as Jennifer Gray{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Library and Archives |date=2022-09-01 |title=Search Results – Theses Canada |url=https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/services/services-libraries/theses/Pages/list.aspx?NW_S=McKelvie,%20Jennifer%20Gray,1977- |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=library-archives.canada.ca}} in East York, and lived her early years in an apartment complex on the North York-Scarborough border. She attended two Toronto Catholic District School Board institutions: Precious Blood Catholic School where she attended their French immersion program,{{Cite web |last=ICI.Radio-Canada.ca |first=Zone Politique- |date=2019-08-31 |title=Jennifer McKelvie à la barre du Comité consultatif des affaires francophones de Toronto |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1240998/jennifer-mckelvie-comite-consultatif-affaires-francophones-toronto |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=Radio-Canada |language=fr-ca}} and Senator O'Connor College School where she graduated.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}
She lives in Ward 25 with her husband, and her two children.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}
Academic career
An environmental geoscientist, she received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Toronto Scarborough and her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Toronto in geology, with research specializing in geochemistry, environmental remediation, and biochemistry. Her academic mentor and supervisor was Barbara Sherwood Lollar.{{Cite news |date=2019-05-06 |title=Barbara Sherwood Lollar, diviner of ancient water, wins top Canadian science prize |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-barbara-sherwood-lollar-diviner-of-ancient-water-wins-top-canadian/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}
McKelvie's academic work has been recognized and supported by the L’Oréal UNESCO Women in Science Fellowship, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. She has co-authored more than twenty peer-reviewed scientific journal publications, which have been referenced more than 1200 times.{{Cite web|url=https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=pZtQ48cAAAAJ&hl=en|title=Jennifer McKelvie - Google Scholar Citations|website=scholar.google.ca|access-date=2019-11-19}} Prior to her election, McKelvie worked as an environmental geoscientist and researcher. For almost a decade, she served as a senior scientist at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, and as a research director at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.{{Cite web |last=mc |date=2018-02-24 |title=NNL reviews Canada's microbiologically influenced corrosion research program |url=https://www.nnl.co.uk/2018/02/nnl-reviews-canadas-microbiologically-influenced-corrosion-research-program/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=National Nuclear Laboratory |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=The Canadian Press |date=11 February 2023 |title=Who is Jennifer McKelvie? Likely interim mayor's work spans from science to politics |url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/who-is-jennifer-mckelvie-likely-interim-mayors-work-spans-from-science-to-politics |access-date=26 August 2024 |work=The National Post}} She was registered as a Professional Geoscientist (P. Geo) with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario.{{cite web |title=Registrants |url=https://www.pgo.ca/search/registered-members |website=Professional Geoscientists Ontario |access-date=16 February 2023}}
Community service
McKelvie was the first president of the Scarborough Community Renewal Organization, and was president of the Centennial Community & Recreation Association. In both of these capacities she fought for renewal and investment in Scarborough. McKelvie also served as a member of the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus Council, and as a citizen member of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).{{Cite web |date=2023-02-10 |title=Who is Jennifer McKelvie? What we know about the councillor poised to take over as Toronto mayor |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/who-is-jennifer-mckelvie-what-we-know-of-the-scarborough-councillor-poised-to-take-over-as-mayor-1.6269718 |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=Toronto |language=en}}
Her community service has been recognized by the Scarborough Rotary Clubs, who awarded her with the Paul Harris Fellow award in 2017. She has also received awards recognizing her leadership from the province of Ontario and was named a 150 Neighbour by the University of Toronto Scarborough.{{Cite web|url=http://www.150neighbours.ca/jennifer-mckelvie/|title=Dr. Jennifer McKelvie|date=2017-06-30|website=150 Neighbours|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-11-19}}
Political career
McKelvie currently serves as Chair of Toronto's Infrastructure and Environment Committee. She also serves on Scarborough's Community Council, the Toronto Hydro Corporation Board of Directors and as the chair of the Toronto Zoo Board of Management.{{Cite web|url=https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/council/members-of-council/councillor-ward-25/|title=Councillor Jennifer McKelvie|date=2018-12-01|website=City of Toronto|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-11-19}}
Enhancing public transit, protecting the environment and creating employment opportunities in Scarborough, were her key electoral priorities. She also derided the post-amalgamation shift of public investment and municipal jobs out of Scarborough to Toronto's downtown core.{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=Mike |date=2019-09-25 |title=Toronto will move staff to Etobicoke and Scarborough civic centres |url=https://www.toronto.com/news-story/9612528-toronto-will-move-staff-to-etobicoke-and-scarborough-civic-centres/ |access-date=2019-11-19 |website=Toronto.com |language=en-CA}}
Following the resignation of John Tory on February 17, 2023, McKelvie assumed certain powers of the mayor of Toronto until Mayor Olivia Chow took office on July 12, following the 2023 mayoral by-election.{{Cite web |last=Aguilar |first=Bryann |date=2023-02-15 |title=John Tory formally resigns as mayor of Toronto |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/john-tory-formally-resigns-as-mayor-of-toronto-1.6276159 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=ctvnews |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2023 |title=Toronto Mayor John Tory is resigning. So what happens now? |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/john-tory-resign-byelection-city-toronto-act-1.6745210 |access-date=February 10, 2023}}{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2023 |title=Toronto Mayor John Tory steps down after admitting relationship with staffer |website=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-mayor-john-tory-statement-1.6745144 |access-date=February 10, 2023}}{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2023 |title=Who is Jennifer McKelvie? What we know of the Scarborough councillor poised to take over as mayor |work=CP24 |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/who-is-jennifer-mckelvie-what-we-know-of-the-scarborough-councillor-poised-to-take-over-as-mayor-1.6269715 |access-date=February 10, 2023}} McKelvie endorsed former deputy mayor and city councillor Ana Bailão to succeed Tory. However, she finished second in the election.{{cite web | url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2023/06/16/torontos-deputy-mayor-steps-into-election-race-by-endorsing-fellow-john-tory-ally.html | title=Deputy mayor breaks pledge to stay out of Toronto mayoral election, backs a candidate | website=Toronto Star | date=July 19, 2023 }}
McKelvie has been announced as the Liberal Party candidate for the riding of Ajax in the 2025 federal election.{{Cite web |last=Lavoie |first=Joanna |date=2025-03-25 |title=Scarborough Coun. Jennifer McKelvie announced as federal Liberal candidate in Ajax |url=https://www.cp24.com/local/durham/2025/03/25/scarborough-coun-jennifer-mckelvie-announced-as-federal-liberal-candidate-in-ajax/ |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=CP24 |language=en}}
Electoral record
{{2025 Canadian federal election/Ajax}}
| class="wikitable" | ||
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|2022 Toronto election, Ward 25{{cite web|url=https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/9085-FinalDeclaration-of-Results-for-the-2022-Toronto-Municipal-Election.pdf|title=Final declaration of the results for the 2022 Toronto Municipal Election|access-date=28 March 2023|website=toronto.ca}} | ||
| style="background:#ddf; width:150px;"| Candidate
! style="background:#ddf;"| Votes ! style="background:#ddf;"| % | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jennifer McKelvie | align=right| 14,168 | align-right| 72.28% |
| Jacinta Kanakaratnam | align=right| 3,449 | align=right| 17.60% |
| Ashan Fernando | align=right| 1,984 | align=right| 10.12% |
| Total||align=right| 19,601 ||align=right| 100% |
| class="wikitable" | ||
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|2018 Toronto election, Ward 25{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-a-look-at-the-2018-toronto-election-results-ward-by-ward/#ward-list_ward25|website=Toronto City Council|date=October 22, 2018|title=A look at the 2018 Toronto election results, ward by ward}} | ||
| style="background:#ddf; width:150px;"| Candidate
! style="background:#ddf;"| Votes ! style="background:#ddf;"| % | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jennifer McKelvie | align=right|11,624 | align-right| 40.21% |
| Neethan Shan | align=right| 11,470 | align=right| 39.68% |
| Paul Cookson | align=right| 1,897 | align=right| 6.56% |
| Amanda Cain | align=right|831 | align=right| 2.87% |
| Total||align=right| 28,970 ||align=right| 100% |
| class="wikitable" | ||
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|2014 Toronto election, Ward 44{{cite web|url=http://www1.toronto.ca/City%20Of%20Toronto/City%20Clerks/Elections/Library/Files/Results%20PDFs/2014%20Election/2014clerksofficialdeclarationofresults.pdf#page11|website=Toronto City Council|date=October 30, 2014|title=Declaration of Results|access-date=April 18, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705235228/http://www1.toronto.ca/City%20Of%20Toronto/City%20Clerks/Elections/Library/Files/Results%20PDFs/2014%20Election/2014clerksofficialdeclarationofresults.pdf#page11|archive-date=July 5, 2016}} | ||
| style="background:#ddf; width:150px;"| Candidate
! style="background:#ddf;"| Votes ! style="background:#ddf;"| % | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ron Moeser | align=right| 6,416 | align=right| 25.73% |
| Jennifer McKelvie | align=right|5,844 | align-right| 23.44% |
| Diana Hall | align=right| 5,530 | align=right| 22.18% |
| Amarjeet Chhabra | align=right|2,852 | align=right| 11.44% |
| Total||align=right| 24,934 ||align=right| 100% |
References
= Notes =
= Citations =
{{Reflist}}
{{Toronto City Councillors}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKelvie, Jennifer}}
Category:21st-century Canadian geologists
Category:Canadian women geologists
Category:Environmental scientists
Category:Toronto city councillors
Category:Women municipal councillors in Ontario
Category:Politicians from Toronto
Category:21st-century Canadian municipal councillors
Category:21st-century Canadian women politicians
Category:21st-century Canadian women scientists
Category:University of Toronto alumni
Category:Liberal Party of Canada candidates in the 2025 Canadian federal election