After months of campaigning, debates and promises, Ottawa residents will head to the polls on Monday, Oct. 26, to elect the mayor, city councillors and school board trustees who will represent them for the next four years.
For voters in Ottawa’s central and western neighbourhoods, there are several important races to watch.
Kitchissippi Ward is guaranteed a new councillor for the first time in 12 years after three-term representative Jeff Leiper decided to run for mayor. In Bay Ward, incumbent Theresa Kavanagh is seeking a third term, while Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster is campaigning for re-election after winning the open seat in 2022.
Across Ottawa, voters will elect representatives in 22 contested wards. River Coun. Riley Brockington and Rideau-Jock Coun. David Brown has already been acclaimed after facing no opponent.
Here’s what residents need to know before casting their ballots.
What are the latest polls saying about Ottawa’s mayoral race?
Fourteen candidates are running for mayor, although much of the campaign has focused on incumbent Mark Sutcliffe, Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, economist Neil Saravanamuttoo and homebuilder Alex Lawson.
Recent public opinion surveys have shown differing levels of support for the four candidates, particularly Sutcliffe and Leiper.
A Quorus Consulting survey released Oct. 19 found Sutcliffe had 28 per cent support among all respondents, compared with 24 per cent for Leiper, seven per cent for Saravanamuttoo and four per cent for Lawson. Another four per cent supported one of the remaining candidates, while 33 per cent were undecided, did not expect to vote or declined to answer.
Among respondents who named a candidate, Sutcliffe received approximately 42 per cent support, compared with 35 per cent for Leiper.
The survey questioned 807 Ottawa residents between Oct. 8 and 15 using an online opt-in panel. Because participants were not selected through probability sampling, a conventional margin of error could not be calculated.
Earlier polling presented a wider gap. A Nanos Research survey conducted for CTV Ottawa between Oct. 4 and 8 found Sutcliffe with 53 per cent support among decided voters, followed by Leiper at 31 per cent, Saravanamuttoo at eight per cent and Lawson at seven per cent.
That survey questioned 762 Ottawa residents and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
How many Ottawa residents have already voted?
Ottawa residents had two opportunities to vote before Election Day, and, as it turns out, many took advantage.
Special advance voting took place Oct. 1 to 4, while the regular advance voting day was held Friday, Oct. 16.
According to figures released by Elections Ottawa, 27,553 residents voted during the four special advance voting days held Oct. 1 to 4. Another 59,039 voters cast their ballots during the regular advance voting day on Oct. 16.
The City also received 2,957 mail-in ballots by the Oct. 16 deadline, bringing the combined total to approximately 89,550 ballots before Election Day.
The early voting numbers represent an increase from the 2022 municipal election, when 79,491 residents voted ahead of Election Day.
Bay Ward recorded the highest participation of any Ottawa ward during the Oct. 16 advance vote, with 4,215 ballots cast. Barrhaven East had the lowest number, at 1,401.
In the last municipal election, Ottawa recorded an overall voter turnout of 43.79 per cent.
Where can Ottawa residents vote on Oct. 26?
Election Day voting takes place Monday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting locations inside retirement homes and institutions may have reduced hours.
Unlike the special advance voting period earlier in October, when residents could vote at any of 10 designated locations across Ottawa, Election Day voters must attend their assigned polling place.
The correct location depends on a voter’s residential address, not simply their ward. Those who did not receive a voter notification letter can still vote. They can check whether they are registered through the City’s website or contact 3-1-1 for assistance.
Voters should bring identification showing their name and a qualifying Ottawa address. A voter notification letter can help speed up the process, but it is not mandatory.
When will the Ottawa election results be announced?
Polling stations close at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, with unofficial results expected to begin appearing shortly afterward.
The City of Ottawa anticipates that most unofficial results will be available within approximately two and a half hours of polls closing. However, the timeline could vary depending on ballot counting.
The newly elected council will serve from Nov. 15, 2026, until Nov. 14, 2030.
Residents can view the results on the City’s official election website.
Candidates by ward
Ward 7: Bay
Bay Ward encompasses a diverse collection of communities in Ottawa’s west end, including Britannia, Bayshore, Crystal Beach, Lakeview and parts of the Carlingwood area.
The ward includes established residential neighbourhoods, high-rise apartment communities, commercial districts and waterfront areas along the Ottawa River.
Flooding and infrastructure have been particularly significant local concerns. Residents have faced repeated challenges associated with heavy rainfall, sewer backups and stormwater management, including following the intense Canada Day storm.
Public transit, affordable housing, neighbourhood safety and development have also been prominent issues.
Incumbent Theresa Kavanagh is seeking another four years on council after first being elected in 2018.
- A look back at 2022: In the last municipal election, Kavanagh won re-election with 82.79 per cent of the vote. Voter turnout was 43.77 per cent, slightly below the citywide average.
Who is running in Bay Ward?
Theresa Kavanagh (incumbent): Kavanagh was first elected to Ottawa city council in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Before becoming a councillor, she served eight years as an Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustee and worked on Parliament Hill for nearly three decades. Her council work has included community infrastructure, transportation, housing and social issues.
Spencer Radford: Radford has studied Police Foundations and Social Service Worker programs at Algonquin College. His professional experience includes bylaw services, public transit and security. He is seeking to unseat Kavanagh after two terms in office.
Butch Moore: Moore is the third candidate on the ballot. He has provided limited publicly available information about his professional background and campaign priorities.
Ward 15: Kitchissippi
For the first time since 2014, Kitchissippi residents will elect someone other than Jeff Leiper to represent them at city hall.
Leiper, who won three consecutive elections, decided to leave his council seat to challenge incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.
Kitchissippi encompasses neighbourhoods including Westboro, Hintonburg, Wellington Village, Mechanicsville, Champlain Park and Westboro Beach.
The ward has experienced considerable change over the past decade as new residential developments have transformed Richmond Road, Scott Street and areas surrounding transit stations.
That growth has created debates over intensification, housing affordability, transportation, cycling infrastructure and the protection of neighbourhood amenities.
The future of local recreational facilities, including Tom Brown Arena, has also been a campaign issue, alongside concerns about reduced OC Transpo service and the need for better transportation connections.
- A look back at 2022: Kitchissippi recorded one of Ottawa’s higher voter turnout rates in 2022. A total of 15,693 ballots were cast out of 29,621 eligible voters, representing a turnout rate of 52.98 per cent. Leiper won re-election with 71.98 per cent of the vote, receiving 11,045 votes. Oonagh Fitzgerald finished second with 3,244 votes, or 21.14 per cent, while Dan Stringer received 1,056 votes, or 6.88 per cent.
Who is running in Kitchissippi Ward?
Joanne Chianello: A longtime Ottawa journalist, Chianello spent years covering municipal affairs and scrutinizing decisions made at city hall. She is seeking elected office after a career in journalism, campaigning on accountability, neighbourhood services and responsible development.
Brian Innes: A former president of the Hintonburg Community Association, Innes has been involved in neighbourhood planning, community advocacy and development issues. His campaign has focused on strengthening neighbourhood representation and ensuring residents have a voice in decisions affecting their communities.
Subhir Uppal: An entrepreneur and local business owner, Uppal has emphasized his private-sector experience and interest in improving municipal services, supporting businesses and addressing neighbourhood concerns.
Xavier Commerford: Commerford is the fourth candidate seeking the open council seat. Few details could be found online.
Michelle Groulx had initially registered as a candidate but subsequently withdrew from the race.
Ward 14: Somerset
Somerset Ward encompasses some of Ottawa’s most densely populated and rapidly changing communities, including Centretown, Chinatown, Little Italy, the Golden Triangle and parts of downtown.
The ward has been at the centre of debates over homelessness, public drug use, community safety and affordable housing.
The economic recovery of Ottawa’s downtown core has also been an important issue, particularly as businesses and neighbourhoods continue adapting to changing work patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ariel Troster is seeking a second term after being elected in 2022, when longtime councillor Catherine McKenney decided to run for mayor.
- A look back at 2022: Troster won the 2022 election with 8,663 votes, representing 61.28 per cent of valid votes cast for the councillor. Stuart MacKay finished second with 4,706 votes, or 33.29 per cent, while Brandon Russell received 768 votes, or 5.43 per cent. A total of 14,832 ballots were cast out of 32,787 eligible voters, representing a turnout rate of 45.24 per cent.
Who is running in Somerset Ward?
Ariel Troster (incumbent): First elected in 2022, Troster has focused much of her term on affordable housing, homelessness, social services and the challenges facing downtown neighbourhoods. She is seeking a second term on council.
Robert Dekker: A policy analyst who works on Parliament Hill, Dekker has lived in the Golden Triangle for approximately two decades. He has served in leadership roles with community associations and the nonprofit housing organization Daybreak. His campaign has placed considerable emphasis on public safety, homelessness and neighbourhood conditions.
Dillon Anderson: Anderson has a background in business administration and accounting and is pursuing his Chartered Professional Accountant designation. His campaign has focused on accessibility, transportation and fiscal responsibility, including the challenges facing residents with mobility limitations.
Michael Tay: Tay has worked for more than 17 years in social and community services, including homelessness, mental health, youth services and newcomer support. He manages a transitional housing program for newcomers and refugee claimants and has taught social service workers at Algonquin College.
Nicholas Gollé: A Carleton University computer engineering graduate, Gollé has worked in information technology in the federal public service for eight years. He is seeking his first term on Ottawa city council.
Who is running in Ottawa’s other 21 wards?
While Kitchissippi, Bay and Somerset are the focus of this election guide, voters across Ottawa are choosing representatives for the next four years.
Two wards are guaranteed new councillors: Kitchissippi, where Jeff Leiper is running for mayor, and Stittsville, where Glen Gower decided not to seek re-election. Two other wards, River and Rideau-Jock, have already been decided by acclamation.
Here is the full list of certified candidates in Ottawa’s remaining 21 wards.
Ward 1 – Orléans East-Cumberland
Matt Luloff (incumbent), Barbara Daniela Gandolfo, Sherif Rizk, Bob Bell, Tammie Trellert, Mazhar Choudhry and Yvette Ashiri.
Ward 2 – Orléans West-Innes
Laura Dudas (incumbent), Jenna Jessop and David Purchase.
Ward 3 – Barrhaven West
David Hill (incumbent), Donna Blackburn and Jeff Balys.
Ward 4 – Kanata North
Cathy Curry (incumbent), James Murchison and Rob Millan.
Ward 5 – West Carleton-March
Clarke Kelly (incumbent), Christine Harrison and Dylan Nose.
Ward 6 – Stittsville
Chelsea Walton, Mani Sharma, Sheetal Narwal, Tanya Hein, Theresa Qadri, Kevin Hua, Marie-Ange Yindaki Ahinful, Paul Meek and Devin Michael Fitzgerald O’Brien. Incumbent Glen Gower is not seeking re-election.
Ward 8 – College
Laine Johnson (incumbent) and Malloum Abakar.
Ward 9 – Knoxdale-Merivale
Sean Devine (incumbent), Cole Fraser Jones, and Anna Ielo-Tal. (Brandon Ly will be on the ballot, but withdrew from the race)
Ward 10 – Gloucester-Southgate
Jessica Bradley (incumbent), John Redins, Donna Dickson, Ahmed Rashid and Ayub Omar.
Ward 11 – Beacon Hill-Cyrville
Tim Tierney (incumbent), Cathryne Milburn and Coreen Corcoran.
Ward 12 – Rideau-Vanier
Stéphanie Plante (incumbent), Lyra Evans, Eric Smith, Brian Paquette, Michael Karl Sewanaku and Julie Fiala Chartrand.
Ward 13 – Rideau-Rockcliffe
Rawlson King (incumbent) and Peter J. Karwacki.
Ward 16 – River
Riley Brockington was acclaimed after no other candidates registered.
Ward 17 – Capital
Shawn Menard (incumbent), Farah Gulzar and Jaac Doduck.
Ward 18 – Alta Vista
Marty Carr (incumbent), Tressy El-Hawi, Derek McSweeney, Muhyadin Omar Barkhat and Elsa Niyongabo.
Ward 19 – Orléans South-Navan
Catherine Kitts (incumbent) and Jason Wing.
Ward 20 – Osgoode
Isabelle Skalski (incumbent) and Bruce Anthony Faulkner.
Ward 21 – Rideau-Jock
David Brown was acclaimed after no other candidates registered.
Ward 22 – Riverside South-Findlay Creek
Steve Desroches (incumbent) and Muyiwa Ojo.
Ward 23 – Kanata South
Allan Hubley (incumbent), Erin Coffin, Megan Strazds-Esenbergs and Sam Bhalesar.
Ward 24 – Barrhaven East
Wilson Lo (incumbent), Zahy A. Adam, Jules Ruhinda, Yoosaf Melparamba and Ahmed Alsabaawi.