With Kitchissippi Ward set to elect a new city councillor for the first time in more than a decade, community volunteer Brian Innes says he wants to ensure the neighbourhood’s growth is matched with the services residents rely on.
Innes, who has lived in Hintonburg with his family for nearly 15 years, is seeking the open council seat on a platform centred around what he calls “practical solutions” to development, transportation and recreation.
His decision to run grew out of years of community involvement and a belief that Kitchissippi needs a stronger voice at city hall as thousands of new residents move into the area.
“I’ve seen the challenges that development is putting on the services and infrastructure that residents care about,” Innes said. “We need a voice at city hall to bring our concerns forward.”
Innes is well known in the community through his volunteer work. He currently serves as president of the Hintonburg Community Association and has helped organize neighbourhood events, including the Hintonburg 5K Road Race. His volunteer experience also includes coaching skiing, working with vulnerable residents and serving on various city committees, including as a citizen member of Ottawa’s Transit Commission.
Those experiences, he said, have given him a close look at both the strengths of Kitchissippi and the challenges that accompany rapid growth.
Development is expected to be one of the defining issues in the ward over the coming council term. Large projects continue to reshape Richmond Road, while major communities such as LeBreton Flats and Tunney’s Pasture are expected to add thousands of new residents over the coming years.
Innes says he supports growth but believes it needs to be better planned. His platform calls for opposing what he describes as “mega towers” along main streets and beside established residential neighbourhoods, while encouraging development that aligns with the city’s planning policies and transit-oriented growth objectives.
He is also advocating for long-term transportation planning to accommodate future growth, along with improvements to transit reliability. A regular transit rider himself, Innes said one of his priorities would be holding OC Transpo accountable for unreliable local bus service.
Recreation infrastructure is another major focus of his campaign. Pointing to the closure of several arenas across urban Ottawa over the past decade, Innes argues the city has failed to keep pace with population growth. He is calling for a new recreation centre and wants to prevent the loss of additional arenas serving central neighbourhoods.
As he has knocked on doors throughout the campaign, Innes said development remains the issue residents raise most often, but another common theme has emerged: accountability.
He said residents want city hall to be more responsive, whether the issue involves development applications, traffic congestion, transit service or basic infrastructure maintenance such as potholes.
If elected, Innes said his leadership style would focus on collaboration and bringing residents into the decision-making process.
“My approach has always been about bringing people together, hearing them, working together and finding solutions,” he said. “That’s what I want to bring as a councillor.”