Kevin Yarde
Canadian politician and television meteorologist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kevin Yarde is a former Canadian politician and former weather presenter who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election for the riding of Brampton North.[2] Initially elected as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party,[3] he eventually left the party to sit as an independent.[1]
Kevin Yarde | |
|---|---|
Yarde in 2019 | |
| Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Brampton North | |
| In office June 7, 2018 – May 3, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Riding established |
| Succeeded by | Graham McGregor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| 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]
While serving as a Member of Provincial Parliament, Yarde was employed by private security firms Sentinel Security and Nationwide Security Ltd.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7]
Personal life and education
Yarde was born in Toronto and has never lived in Brampton, but has "longtime family roots in Brampton".[7][8] His ancestors emigrated to Canada from the United States (Virginia), Barbados and Saint Kitts and Nevis (Saint Kitts).[9] He studied journalism at York University and Ryerson University, before beginning his television career on the Rogers TV community television network.[7] He joined The Weather Network in 2001, first as a field correspondent and later as a studio host.[7] 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.[7]
Electoral record
| 2018 Ontario general election: Brampton North | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Kevin Yarde | 14,877 | 37.55 | +6.24 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Ripudaman Dhillon | 14,380 | 36.29 | +11.85 | ||||
| Liberal | Harinder Malhi | 8,410 | 21.22 | -18.70 | ||||
| Green | Pauline Thornham | 1,366 | 3.45 | +0.04 | ||||
| Libertarian | Gregory Argue | 591 | 1.49 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 39,624 | 98.98 | ||||||
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 407 | 1.02 | ||||||
| Turnout | 40,031 | 51.58 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 77,609 | |||||||
| New Democratic notional gain from Liberal | Swing | +12.47 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Ontario[10] | ||||||||