Dillon Anderson runs for Somerset Ward council on accessibility platform
The Somerset Ward candidate says accessible transit, safe streets, and affordable housing are connected, and he wants councillors to hold Para Transpo to higher standards.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on kitchissippi.com.
Dillon Anderson, a candidate for Somerset Ward city council, says accessibility is the thread running through every issue he wants to address at city hall. The Kitchissippi Times published a profile of his campaign on October 19, 2026.
Anderson moved to Ottawa in spring 2026 and attended his first Ottawa city council meeting in April. That visit prompted him to run for the seat representing Ward 14. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on accounting and is working toward his Chartered Professional Accountant designation, the Kitchissippi Times reported.
"Accessibility connects everything," Anderson told the outlet. "If we have an accessible and inclusive community, it means we have safe streets that we can walk on, we have downtown businesses that we can support."
His most specific proposal involves Para Transpo, the city's service for people who cannot use the regular transit system. Anderson told the Kitchissippi Times that current booking rules restrict riders to scheduling trips between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., forcing people with disabilities to plan their day around the system rather than their own needs. He said he wants city councillors to have a stronger voice in Para Transpo decisions so elected officials can push for measurable improvements.
Anderson rides the O-Train every second day or so, he told the outlet, but said he generally avoids the bus because navigating routes and transfers is difficult for him. He has encountered problems with LRT elevators and accessible door buttons in the ward.
He connects those transit problems to a broader vision. Downtown businesses struggle because people do not feel safe walking after 8 p.m., he told the Kitchissippi Times. He said addressing homelessness is part of fixing that, and that making food more affordable is part of addressing homelessness. He argued that different levels of government should work with community partners instead of pointing to jurisdictional boundaries as a reason to wait.
Somerset Ward voters can review all candidates running in their ward, including Dillon Anderson, at /on/ottawa-2026/races/councillor/ward-14-somerset. Ottawa's municipal election is October 26, 2026.
Questions this story answers
Who is Dillon Anderson?
Dillon Anderson is running for city council in Somerset Ward, which is Ward 14 in Ottawa. He moved to Ottawa in spring 2026 and decided to enter the race after attending his first Ottawa city council meeting in April of that year, according to the Kitchissippi Times. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on accounting and is working toward his Chartered Professional Accountant designation.
What is Anderson's main campaign focus?
Anderson's central campaign theme is accessibility, which he defines broadly. He told the Kitchissippi Times that accessibility connects transit, housing, public safety, and support for local businesses. His specific focus areas include Para Transpo scheduling, LRT elevator reliability, homelessness, and making food more affordable so people feel safe downtown.
What does Anderson want to change about Para Transpo?
Anderson told the Kitchissippi Times he wants city councillors to have a stronger role in discussions about Para Transpo, so elected officials can hold the service to measurable standards. He cited booking restrictions as a specific problem, saying people with disabilities can only book Para Transpo trips between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., which forces them to organize their whole lives around the system's rules rather than their own needs.
Does Anderson use OC Transpo himself?
Yes. Anderson told the Kitchissippi Times he rides the O-Train every second day or so. He also said he generally avoids taking the bus when he can, because navigating routes and transfers is difficult for him. He has encountered problems with LRT elevators and accessible door buttons in Somerset Ward.
What is Anderson's position on homelessness and housing?
Anderson told the Kitchissippi Times that homelessness and public safety are connected to accessibility in the downtown core. He said people do not feel comfortable supporting local businesses after 8 p.m. because of concerns about safety. He said solving homelessness requires working across government levels and with community partners, and that making food more affordable is part of the answer. He argued jurisdictional disputes between levels of government should not be used as an excuse for inaction at city hall.
Which ward is Anderson running in?
Anderson is running for city councillor in Somerset Ward, which is Ward 14 in the City of Ottawa. Somerset Ward covers part of Ottawa's downtown core. Ottawa votes for city council and mayor on October 26, 2026.
Where is the Somerset Ward race on voche.me?
You can read about all the candidates running in Somerset Ward, including Dillon Anderson, at /on/ottawa-2026/races/councillor/ward-14-somerset on voche.me. That page lists each candidate's platform and sources. Ottawa's municipal voting day is October 26, 2026. The ward covers part of Ottawa's downtown core.
When did the Kitchissippi Times publish this profile?
The Kitchissippi Times published its profile of Dillon Anderson on October 19, 2026, with a focus on how he connects accessibility to transit, safety, housing, and local business support in Somerset Ward. The Kitchissippi Times covers Ottawa's Kitchissippi ward and surrounding neighbourhoods including parts of Somerset Ward.
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