I want to asking residents for the opportunity to bring a new community-focused voice to City Hall and work together to invest in the future of Ward 21.

Madura Shanmugaratnam is a longtime Toronto resident, community advocate, and parent who has proudly called Scarborough home for over two decades. After moving to Scarborough with her family in 2004, she quickly fell in love with the area’s diversity, strong sense of community, green spaces, and reliable transit connections. She later chose to raise her own family in the Bendale neighbourhood, believing Ward 21 offers the perfect balance between city life and community-oriented living.

She completed her Honours BA in Criminology at the University of Windsor, where she developed a strong interest in how social and environmental factors shape communities and quality of life. For the past 20 years, she has worked in the banking industry, building extensive experience in communication, accountability, and serving people from diverse backgrounds.

Since 2019, Madura has been actively involved in parent councils at two local schools, working closely with families, educators, and community members to create safe, welcoming, and engaging spaces for children and families. In 2026, she helped organize a successful community fundraising event that brought residents together while supporting school programs and activities.

Over the years, she has seen Scarborough change. As the population has grown, affordability has declined, transit reliability has worsened, roads have become more congested, and community services have struggled to keep pace with residents’ needs. She believes Ward 21 deserves better investment, stronger accountability, and leadership that listens to the people who live here.

Madura is running for City Council because she believes Ward 21 has been overlooked for too long. She is committed to advocating for reliable transit, safer roads, improved city services for families, and responsible spending that prioritizes residents’ everyday needs. She believes that as property taxes increase, residents deserve to see meaningful improvements in the services and infrastructure they rely on.

She is asking residents for the opportunity to bring a new community-focused voice to City Hall and work together to invest in the future of Ward 21.