Nine candidates are running to be the new councillor in Stittsville for the 2026-2030 term of council. Incumbent Glen Gower is not seeking re-election after serving two terms as councillor in Stittsville. Gower won the 2022 election with 58.7 per cent of the vote. The nine candidates running for councillor are Leading Ladies Canada founder Marie-Ange Yindaki Ahinful, community advocate and paralegal Tanya Hein, community advocate Kevin Hua, Kichesippi Beer founder Paul Meek, security executive and community advocate Sheetal Narwal, Devin Michael Fitzgerald O’Brien, business owner Theresa Qadri, Mani Sharma and City of Ottawa employee Chelsea Walton. Stittsville The ward of Stittsville covers an area north of Highway 417, south of Flewellyn (between Stittsville Main Street and Shea Road) and Fernbank Road, west of Terry Fox Drive and west of the urban boundary limit. Meet the candidates CTV News Ottawa invited all registered candidates to answer a questionnaire and submit a video introducing themselves to voters. Marie-Ange Yindaki Ahinful Age: 43 Political experience: I am a first-time candidate for Ottawa City Council, but I bring years of community leadership and public service experience. As Founder and President of Leading Ladies Canada, I have worked with residents, community organizations, local businesses, elected officials, and different levels of government on issues affecting women, youth, families, and diverse communities. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. My education and experience have taught me how government works, how to manage responsibilities, build partnerships, listen to people, and advocate for the needs of the community. Professional experience: I have professional experience in public administration, finance, audit, procurement, budgeting, and community leadership. I have worked in the federal public service, including at National Defence, where I managed budgets, financial planning, and administrative responsibilities. I am also the Founder and President of Leading Ladies Canada, where I lead community programs, organize large events, manage partnerships, work with volunteers, businesses, government representatives, and community organizations, and support women, youth, and families. My professional experience has taught me how to manage resources responsibly, work with different people, solve problems, build partnerships, and deliver results. How long have you lived in Ottawa? I first moved to Ottawa in 1996. I later left Ottawa for a few years to continue my education in Sudbury and Moncton before returning. Ottawa has been home for most of my life, and today my family and I are proud to call Stittsville home. Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: One of my favourite places in Ottawa is Stittsville Main Street and Village Square Park. What was the last book you read? The last book I read was Becoming by Michelle Obama. I enjoyed learning about her journey, her family, her challenges, and how she found her own voice and purpose. What is the top song in your playlist? I have a mix of music on my playlist, but I especially enjoy uplifting songs that give me energy and motivation. How often do you use OC Transpo? I use OC Transpo from time to time, but not every day. I also hear regularly from residents. Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? I would not support increasing transit fares as the first solution to improving OC Transpo. Residents are already concerned about affordability and unreliable service. My priority would be to make transit more reliable, accessible, and efficient, especially for growing communities like Stittsville. Before considering any fare changes, I would want to look carefully at the budget, ridership, and other funding options. People should get better value and better service for the fares they already pay. Would you support increasing the police budget? Would be open to supporting an increase if it is clearly tied to better community safety, faster response times, traffic enforcement, and visible policing where residents need it most. At the same time, I would want to see clear results, accountability, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars. For me, the question is not simply whether the budget goes up or down — it is whether residents are getting safer neighbourhoods and better service. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? I would support an infrastructure levy only if there is a clear need, a transparent plan, and residents can see exactly how the money will be used. Stittsville is growing quickly, and our roads, sewers, and other infrastructure need to keep pace. But before asking taxpayers to pay more, I would want the City to show that existing funds are being used responsibly and efficiently. My priority is to make sure we invest in the infrastructure our community needs while also protecting affordability for residents. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: The biggest issues I am hearing from residents and local businesses in Stittsville are growth, traffic and road safety, transit, infrastructure, housing, and support for local businesses and families. Stittsville is growing quickly, and residents want to make sure our roads, transit, parks, schools, community spaces, and other services keep pace with that growth. Traffic congestion and road safety are also major concerns, especially for pedestrians, cyclists, children, and families. Residents have also raised concerns about unreliable transit and long travel times. We need better bus service and stronger connections to the rest of Ottawa. Local businesses have spoken to me about traffic, parking, visibility, and the challenges of operating in a growing community. I want to make sure they are supported and have a strong voice at City Hall. Affordability is another important issue. Residents are concerned about taxes, housing costs, and getting good value for the services they pay for. Most importantly, people want a councillor who is present, accessible, and willing to listen. My goal is to make sure Stittsville grows responsibly while protecting the strong community feeling that makes it a great place to live. Tanya Hein Age: 49 Political experience: I have never held political office, but I did run for Stittsville’s council position in 2022. I have always been a keen observer of different levels of government and have taken on volunteer roles that interacted directly with city committees and council. Professional experience: I am a paralegal, Notary Public, and business owner in Stittsville. Most of my work is in Landlord and Tenant Board disputes but my professional experience includes print journalism, administration, and federal legislative analysis roles. How long have you lived in Ottawa? With the exception of a year in Carleton Place and a year in Winnipeg, I have lived in Ottawa since 1996. Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: Would it be too cheeky to say City Hall? What was the last book you read? Confessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town by Charles Marohn Jr. What is the top song in your playlist? Coat of Many Colors -- like much of the world, I’ve been revisiting Dolly Parton’s music How often do you use OC Transpo? Not often. I live on the fringe of Stittsville, and transit does not meet most of my family’s needs. Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? I would prefer lower fares/higher ridership but I don’t think fares are our most pressing issue right now. As a city, we aren’t going to be able to shift riders out of cars and into transit at the scale we need if the service isn’t reliable, efficient, connected or timely enough to be a functional, reasonable alternative -- even at lower fares. Would you support increasing the police budget? I support data-driven decision making. That means looking at what we’ve been spending and the value obtained, evaluating our upcoming needs and how they can be met, and basing budget approvals on that information rather than blanket statements of support or non support. Generally, I feel police offer an incredibly important and wide-ranging spectrum of services, and needs are constantly evolving and growing with our population. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? My strong preference is a comprehensive change to how cities are funded but until that happens, I am open to the idea of an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure. Adding additional burden to taxpayers is never popular, but the undeniable reality is we cannot continue pushing critical upgrades into the future and pretending everything is okay. I would like to say we could find enough efficiencies in our current spending to address infrastructure needs, but the gap is too big. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: Nearly half of Stittsville’s households didn’t exist a decade ago. Our rapid growth and intensification is happening in the context of a housing crisis, an affordability crisis, an infrastructure crisis, and a funding crisis, and what we’ve seen -- and what has to be better managed going forward -- is ensuring that the provision of infrastructure and services is timelier and closely aligned with the growth. We need that for our community to function. For example, dropping thousands of people into a development with no/very low parking and expecting them to rely on transit that sees them spending 2-4 hours commuting to school or work, or that can’t take them where they need to go, will only create frustration and illegal parking issues. Expecting them to walk on disconnected or poorly lit sidewalks or to bike on ‘lanes’ covered with snow and debris or marked only with flimsy flags creates safety concerns. Transportation and mobility are foundational to day-to-day living. Infrastructure covers more than roads and transit. It’s things we need and use don’t thing about until they aren’t available: water and sewer management, waste management facilities, community centres, parks, arenas and sports fields, emergency services, libraries, public trees, traffic lights and more. Ottawa’s infrastructure gap is huge, with long-ignored expenses often taking priority over newer but still important investments, the result is we build problems into our new communities and shelve the solutions to be paid for another day. If Stittsville is to grow as planned, we need infrastructure. Kevin Hua Age: 25 Political experience: City Councillor Candidate for Stittsville in the 2022 municipal election. NDP Candidate for Carleton in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections Professional experience: Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management and Master of Public Policy and Administration from Carleton University - Worked in the federal public service for multiple years in various departments including Environment and Climate Change Canada, Service Canada, and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada - Co-founded and served on the Board of West Side Pride, a Pride organization for Western Ottawa, and was responsible for organizing and managing the community fair of the annual festival. How long have you lived in Ottawa? 25 years, my whole life. Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: The Supreme Court of Canada What was the last book you read? Forcing Choice: The Risky Reward of Referendums by J. Patrick Boyer What is the top song in your playlist? 怪物 (Kaibutsu/Monster) by YOASOBI How often do you use OC Transpo? Fairly often as it is my only way to get around the city. Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? Decrease, Ottawa already has the fourth highest transit fares in Canada and we should be improving the affordability of transit to increase transit ridership and accessibility. Would you support increasing the police budget? No, I believe the growth in the police budget is becoming unsustainable because we have made them into a catch all for all sorts of problems in our communities outside their core mandate stretching their resources thin. I believe we need to reassess the responsibilities under the police service and re-task what can be preformed better by other municipal services or functions so that the police service can focus on their core mandate. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? I am open to the idea as it would ensure stable funding to be directly invested into the infrastructure we need but my support would depend on the exact details of such a levy. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: Prior to this election, I conducted a listening tour within the community meeting with community organizations and members to identify the top issues in the community for the municipal election. From those conversations, I identified transit, community planning, and road safety. Paul Meek Age: 54 Political experience: I have not held any formal political positions. Professional experience: Financial Advisor and Mortgage Broker. Owner and Founder of Kichesippi Beer Company. Owner and Founder of Harvey and Verns Olde Fashioned Soda Owner and Founder of The Commons Ottawa. How long have you lived in Ottawa? 24 years Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: Remic Rapids What was the last book you read? The Pelican Brief - John Grisham What is the top song in your playlist? Three Little Birds - Bob Marley How often do you use OC Transpo? Infrequently Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? I would support a decrease in transit fares Would you support increasing the police budget? I want to ensure the Ottawa Police Service has the resources it needs to keep our communities safe, but I don’t support any city department should automatically receive a budget increase without first demonstrating the need for it. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? I support investing in the necessary maintenance and improvements for our roads, sewers and other infrastructure, but I would not automatically support adding another levy to property tax bills. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: An Affordable Stittsville: As councillor I will prioritize responsible budgeting and careful use of tax dollars to ensure Stittsville residents receive good value for the municipal services they fund. A Safer Stittsville: I am committed to making safety a priority in every Stittsville neighbourhood, with practical solutions for safer streets and communities - protecting pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and families throughout Stittsville. Better Services for Stittsville: I will work to ensure that infrastructure and City services keep pace with Stittsville’s growth, including roads, transit, parks, trails, recreation spaces and sports facilities. Sheetal Narwal Age: Political experience: None in elected office. Board Director, YWCA Durham — governance, budget oversight, and accountability for an organization serving women and families in crisis. I’ve been on the side of the table that answers for outcomes, not the side that announces them. Professional experience: Decades building infrastructure people depend on. Helped build datacenters. Managed infrastructure and security services protecting a provincial healthcare system. CEO of a Canadian security company — built the team, scaled it, created jobs across multiple provinces, made the hard calls. Stepped down in 2026 and hold no current business role. How long have you lived in Ottawa? Six years in Ottawa. I chose Stittsville specifically, in 2025 — after living in the city long enough to know where I wanted to build a life. Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: The stretch of John Woods between Maple Grove and Hazeldean, where Leo and I walk most mornings. What was the last book you read? Arthur, by Mikael Lindnord What is the top song in your playlist? Perfect, Ed Sheeran How often do you use OC Transpo? Rarely- no daily commute. Used twice this year to see what the service is actually like. Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? In Stittsville, the major problem is not price, it’s reliability. So: neither. Freeze fares and tie every increase to published reliability targets. Raise the price of a bus that doesn’t come and you lose that rider for good. Cut the fare on the same bus and you’ve made an empty ride cheaper. Fix the service first. Would you support increasing the police budget? Yes — if it’s tied to what residents actually experience. Ottawa Police publish ward-level crime statistics, and in Stittsville the overall crime rate has been trending down. That’s worth saying plainly, because it’s not what most people assume. But what residents raise with me isn’t the crime rate. It’s response times, traffic enforcement, and visibility- and those aren’t reported at the ward level the way crime counts are. I’d support increases tied to published service performance, not just budget growth. Fund it, then show residents what this ward received for it. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? Yes — with conditions. Stittsville’s roads haven’t kept up with a decade of growth. But a levy only works if the money is locked to roads and sewers and can’t be spent on anything else, and if it goes to the worst roads first — measured, not argued over. The city already inspects and rates every road. Residents should be able to look up their own street and see where it sits in line. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: 1) Traffic and transit: Roads haven’t kept pace with a decade of growth, and transit still treats Stittsville as the end of the line. At the doors, people split into three groups: those who ride several times a week and want reliability, those who’d ride if it went somewhere useful, and those who have given up and chose to drive. That’s a service problem, not a demand problem. On the roads, it’s a safety problem before it’s a congestion one. 2) Safe, liveable neighbourhoods: Policing, recreation, parks and road safety aren’t four issues. They’re one: whether this is a place you raise a family or just sleep. Fernbank, Blackstone & Edenwylde added thousands of homes. The parks, the canopy, the community facilities came years later, if at all. Nobody objects to the houses. People object to being sold a neighbourhood and delivered a subdivision. 3) Accountability for our taxes: This is the thread through the other two. Residents here have no straightforward way to see what Ward 6 gets back for what it pays in. Every tax dollar deserves accountability, transparency and value. None of this is a shortage of good intentions. It’s a delivery failure. That’s the standard I’m bringing to this one. Devin Michael Fitzgerald O’Brien Age: 32 Political experience: Stittsville village board member, former Stittsville Christmas parade, Stop the skyscrapers movement, Build the Stittsville Health Hub movement, More emergency room doctors at the Queensway Hospital movement, Project management certificate 1 year, Bachelors of arts University of Ottawa specialization business and history. Founded the Kanata Stittsville Community Building and Infrastructure Group, filmed both of the Kanata and Stittsville debates for MP and MPP. One of Ottawa’s biggest Facebook influencers with 1.5 million views. Top contributor or all-star contributor to most of the Ottawa Valley’s Facebook groups. Professional experience: Founder of Devins Hidden Shop, the most famous store in the Ottawa Valley on Facebook. Pokemon anime silver store in Stittsville 1.6 million Ottawa area views influencer Md financial tiree consulting intern, Helps Stittsville flea market owners, Fixed neighborhoods roofs during the derecho with his brother (Ottawa area tornado). How long have you lived in Ottawa? Was born in Ottawa Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: Stittsville water tower What was the last book you read? The book my dad, Larry O’Brien, just published on the first freed African American in the Ottawa Valley swallowing the muskellunge from the Wright Caravan who my ancestor bought his first plot of land What is the top song in your playlist? The pothole song by Ritchie Kavanagh How often do you use OC Transpo? 3 times a day for 17 years Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? Reduce for low-income women. Women are important. Women who are on ODSP or Ontario Works need some help. Would you support increasing the police budget? In Stittsville, the budget is sufficient for our protection. Would increase vehicle theft detective budget portion. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? As the founder of Kanata-Stittsville community building and local infrastructure group, I would focus almost entirely on improving infrastructure and services. Fix the potholes. We have enough money that we don’t need to increase a levy for it. We can just take it from a less important area and find savings. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: STITTSVILLE IS NOT FOR SALE, MINTO. And we actually have a culture, Mr. Gower. We are completely sick of footing the bill for the downtown LRT disaster and Lansdowne 2.0 backroom deals while our own neighborhoods get ignored. I’m Devin from Devin’s Hidden Shop. My roots go back to the potato famine. I delivered papers to the Stittsville trailer park at six, ran my shop at the Flea Market, served on the Village Board, and founded the local infrastructure coalition. I have university degrees in history, business, and project management to tear through City Hall bureaucracy, but my boots are firmly on the ground. I owe NOTHING to developers—I owe everything to Ward 6. My Day-One Guarantees: INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE DENSITY: NO to skyscrapers in Stittsville. No high-density development without roads. Robert Grant Ave to Palladium built before 2030. Period. FIXING OUR STREETS: THREE extra teams dedicated solely to Stittsville potholes, and one team exclusively assigned to removing wild parsnip. PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY: Secure a new Stittsville fire truck and make the Kanata-Stittsville Health Hub top-tier priority. TRANSIT EQUITY: A HARD FREEZE on Stittsville property taxes funding OC Transpo until they fix ‘ghost buses’ and restore off-peak routes. I am offering exactly ONE TERM of service. Throw me in the ring. Theresa Qadri Age: Political experience: Supported Professional experience: Lead support for three municipal councillor campaigns Ward 6 City of Ottawa, MPP candidate. HR, Manager and Trainer at major national publicly traded Canadian corporation. Franchisee of major Canadian corporation, multi location small business owner. Licensed Ontario residential real estate agent How long have you lived in Ottawa? All my life Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: La What was the last book you read? The backyard Rink, Joan Savoie What is the top song in your playlist? Pretty Woman How often do you use OC Transpo? I work and live in Ward 6 and I’m a regular multi-modal user of pathways, trails Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? Currently fares should be free or low cost for certain time periods. When service reliability and ridership improves, we would revisit transit fares at that time. This answer would change once provincial arrangements and takeover timelines, terms and conditions are clearer. Would you support increasing the police budget? Yes. Community safety remains a city and Ward 6 priority which needs to keep pace with growth Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? No. A levy is another form of taxation. I support strong fiscal management and transparency Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: 1. Let’s get Stittsville moving in, out and around Ward 6. I’ll take a whole of Stittsville view on transportation of all types including safer intersections, major arteries in Ward 6 that work, and better transit. 2. Let’s make growth work for us. Growth isn’t going away and it shouldn’t. I’ll make sure residents have a stronger voice with the city and province on decisions affecting growth, parks, wetlands. 3. Let’s keep Stittsville a community where the voices of residents can be heard easily by me, where our communities are connected and complete, we have gathering spaces and life in Ward 6 offers job opportunities and affordable living. Mani Sharma Age: 52 Political experience: No experience Professional experience: 35 years How long have you lived in Ottawa? 15 Years Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: Stittsville Main Street. It is the heart of our community and where I want to bring more life and lo What was the last book you read? Team of Rivals What is the top song in your playlist? Home How often do you use OC Transpo? I use OC Transpo three to four times a month. Frequency drops mainly due to unreliability Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? I would work to keep fares stable and reinvest in reliability first. Riders need buses that show up before they need lower prices. Once service is dependable, I will push to ease the burden on daily riders and seniors. Would you support increasing the police budget to boost officer presence in your ward? I support smart investment in officer presence paired with community programs. Ward 6 is growing fast and public safety must grow with it, without unnecessary spending. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? I support a fair, transparent levy tied directly to visible projects in our ward. What we are paying right now is not fair and seems like given back to our ward, Stittsville. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: Stittsville is growing faster than our infrastructure can keep up. Roads like Stittsville Main, Carp Road, Huntmar Drive, Abbott Road, Terry Fox Drive, and Cope Road are strained, and residents wait too long for transit that does not always show up. As your councillor, my top priority is pushing hard for the Robert Grant Avenue extension to Palladium Drive and ensuring it connects properly to future LRT and bus routes, adding more buses and rapid transit systems like Hub Connecting small buses, adding micro transit systems, so families are not car dependent and are not left stranded in winter. Second, our sewer and road infrastructure has not kept pace with new housing developments. I support a fair infrastructure levy, but only paired with full transparency on where every dollar goes. Third, safety matters. Growing neighborhoods need visible, responsive policing paired with community-based prevention, not one at the expense of the other. Fourth, Stittsville Main Street deserves real investment and beautification to support local business and community pride. Finally, I bring 35 years of professional experience and 15 years as a resident who has watched this community grow. I am not a career politician; I am a neighbor who understands what daily life here actually looks like. My focus is practical results, transit that works, infrastructure that keeps pace, safety that is felt, and a Main Street that thrives. I am asking for your trust to bring that focus to City Hall. Chelsea Walton Age: 42 Political experience: Former City of Ottawa Councillor’s Assistant, serving in the Stittsville Ward office from 2018-2020 and College Ward from 2022-2024. This is my first time running for elected office. Professional experience: City of Ottawa public servant with experience in project management, traffic services, traffic calming, and social services. My municipal career has included roles in Public Works and Employment and Social Services. Prior to joining the City, I worked in the community as a social worker, supporting women and children who were working to establish lives free of violence. I hold a Bachelor of Social Work from Carleton University and a Diploma in Assaulted Women and Children’s Councillor/Advocate program from George Brown College. How long have you lived in Ottawa? 19 years Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: Dow’s Lake, especially the paths along the water and through the Arboretum What was the last book you read? Tenacious Little F*cker by Keith Egli What is the top song in your playlist? Powerful by Reuben and the Bullhorn Singers How often do you use OC Transpo? Not often while on leave; previously a regular commuter to City Hall Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? I support affordable transit fares, but not at the expense of service. My priority is improving reliability and frequency without increasing fares. As ridership grows, it will create an opportunity to explore reducing fares, especially for youth transit. Would you support increasing the police budget? Police play an essential role in community safety, and Ottawa Police Service needs the resources to do its job effectively. I support reasonable increases to address inflation and operational pressures, while expanding programs like ANCHOR and Special Constables to ensure police resources are used efficiently and responsibly. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? Ottawa has underinvested in infrastructure, and we can’t continue to defer those costs forever. At the same time, affordability is an important concern for residents. Before adding a new levy, I want a clear picture of the infrastructure gap, available funding from upper levels of government, and where we can reprioritize existing spending. I wouldn’t rule out a levy if it’s ultimately necessary to protect our critical road and sewer infrastructure. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: Stittsville is an amazing community to live in and it’s no surprise that more families and older adults are choosing to call it home. As our community grows, it’s essential that our infrastructure and services keep pace. How we move through our community is a major concern. Residents are facing long commutes, local congestion, speeding on residential streets, gaps in walking and cycling connections, and transit that is not reliable enough to be a practical choice for many people. We need to see our planned road projects move forward, improve safety on our streets, particularly in school zones, and improve transit reliability, connections, and ultimately, frequency. Our growing population is also putting pressure on services. Recreation programs are routinely at capacity, community spaces are limited, and new neighbourhoods can wait years for parks and other amenities. We are no longer a rural village, and residents should not have to drive across the city to access professional health care, childcare, seniors programming, newcomer supports, and mental health services. Stittsville’s growth reflects what makes our community such a great place to live. The next term will require experienced leadership that understands how to navigate City Hall, move projects forward and advocate for the investment our growing community needs.
