Jamaal Myers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamaal Myers
Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office August 11, 2023
Preceded by	Jon Burnside
Toronto City Councillor for Ward 23 Scarborough North
Incumbent
Assumed office November 15, 2022
Preceded by	Cynthia Lai
Personal details
Born	Jamaal Michael Anthony Myers 1982/1983 (age 41–42) Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Education	University of Western Ontario (BA) London School of Economics (MSc) New York University (JD)
Occupation	Politician lawyer

Jamaal Myers is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He helps lead the public transportation system in Toronto, called the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). He became the chair of the TTC on August 11, 2023.

Myers also represents Ward 23 Scarborough North on the Toronto City Council. He has been a city councillor since November 15, 2022. Before he became a politician, he worked as a lawyer for businesses.

Early Life and Education

Jamaal Michael Anthony Myers was born in 1982 or 1983. He grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, a part of Toronto. His parents came from Jamaica. He lived in Toronto Community Housing when he was young.

University Studies

Myers went to the University of Western Ontario. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science in 2006. After that, he studied at the London School of Economics in 2007. There, he got a master's degree in comparative politics. This field compares how different governments work.

In 2013, Myers earned a law degree. He studied at the New York University School of Law.

Career Before Politics

Before becoming a city councillor, Jamaal Myers worked at TD Bank. He was promoted to a senior legal counsel position in 2020. His work focused on something called ESG. This means looking at how companies affect the environment, society, and how they are managed.

Community Involvement

Myers also spent time helping his community. He was the vice-chair of the TAIBU Community Health Center. He was also a director for the Scarborough Business Association.

He volunteered with groups like HousingNowTO. This group works to make housing more affordable. He also volunteered with Scarborough Transit Action. This group helps improve public transportation in Scarborough.

Political Journey

Jamaal Myers was elected to the Toronto City Council in the 2022 Toronto municipal election. He took the place of Cynthia Lai, who was no longer able to run.

Campaign Promises

During his election campaign, Myers promised to work on several important issues. He wanted to make housing more affordable for everyone. He also aimed to make healthcare easier to access.

He also promised more money and more buses for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). This was especially important after the Line 3 Scarborough subway line closed. Myers also supported keeping the ActiveTO program. This program closes some streets to cars so people can walk and bike.

Many groups supported Myers during his campaign. These included the Toronto Star newspaper and the Toronto & York Region Labour Council.

First Term on Council

When Myers started his first term, he joined other councillors. They spoke out against a new law called the Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022. This law would give the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa more power. It would let them pass local laws with only a small number of city council members agreeing.

On August 11, 2023, Mayor Olivia Chow chose Myers for a big role. He was appointed as the chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Board. This means he helps lead Toronto's public transit system.

Election Results

This table shows the results from the 2022 election for Ward 23 Scarborough North.