Kevin Yarde
Kevin Yarde MPP is a Canadian politician and former weather presenter, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election.[2] Initially elected as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party,[3] he currently represents the riding of Brampton North as an independent.[1]
Kevin Yarde | |
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Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Brampton North | |
Assumed office June 7, 2018 | |
Preceded by | Riding established |
Personal details | |
Born | Toronto, Ontario |
Political party | Independent[1] |
Other political affiliations | New Democratic (2018–2022) |
Education | York University Ryerson University |
Occupation | Weather presenter |
Website | kevinyarde |
He is part of Ontario's first ever Black Caucus, alongside NDP caucus colleagues Laura Mae Lindo, Faisal Hassan, Jill Andrew and Rima Berns-McGown.[4]
Yarde did not receive his party's nomination as a candidate in the 2022 election, losing to Sandeep Singh, who unsuccessfully ran in Caledon Ward 2 in the 2018 municipal elections. Yarde was the only NDP incumbent MPP to not receive his party nomination.[5] Subsequently, Yarde resigned from the NDP to sit as an independent MPP for the remainder of the 42nd Parliament of Ontario.[1]
Prior to his election to the legislature, Yarde worked for The Weather Network.[6]
Personal life and education
Yarde was born in Toronto and has never lived in Brampton, but has "longtime family roots in Brampton".[6][7] He studied journalism at York University and Ryerson University, before beginning his television career on the Rogers TV community television network.[6] He joined The Weather Network in 2001, first as a field correspondent and later as a studio host.[6] Yarde is a member of the US-based National Association of Black Journalists and also a volunteer with the Toronto location of Covenant House, a shelter and support centre for homeless and at-risk youth.[3]
He is a first cousin of drummer Tyler Stewart of the Barenaked Ladies.[6]
Electoral record
2018 Ontario general election: Brampton North | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
New Democratic | Kevin Yarde | 14,877 | 37.55 | |||||
Progressive Conservative | Ripudaman Dhillon | 14,380 | 36.29 | |||||
Liberal | Harinder Malhi | 8,410 | 21.22 | |||||
Green | Pauline Thornham | 1,366 | 3.45 | |||||
Libertarian | Gregory Argue | 591 | 1.49 | |||||
Total valid votes | 39,624 | 100.0 | ||||||
Eligible voters | 77,609 | |||||||
New Democratic pickup new district. | ||||||||
Source: Elections Ontario[8] |
References
- "Brampton NDP MPP leaves caucus to sit as independent after losing nomination contest". CBC News. Toronto ON: The Canadian Press. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- "NDP leader's brother elected in Brampton East, Weather Network personality wins Brampton North". Toronto Star. June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- Frisque, Graeme (June 8, 2018). "NDP's Kevin Yarde wins in Brampton North". Brampton Guardian. Archived from the original on June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- "NDP establishes first official Black Caucus in Ontario History". Ontario New Democratic Party, April 15, 2019.
- Cornwell, Steve (8 April 2022). "Current Brampton NDP MPP loses nomination battle to former Caledon council hopeful ahead of Ontario election". The Brampton Guardian. Mississauga ON: Metroland Media Group. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- "On TV with Kevin Yarde". The Weather Network. Pelmorex. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- Brown, Nikita (May 1, 2018). "NDP - Kevin Yarde". Bramptonist. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Retrieved 16 January 2019.