Joanne Chianello wins Kitchissippi Ward with 65 per cent of the vote
The former CBC and Ottawa Citizen journalist took 10,722 ballots in ward 15, and says her first focus will be traffic pressures from new housing and the future of Bayview Yards.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on kitchissippi.com.
Joanne Chianello won the Kitchissippi Ward council seat on October 26 with 10,722 votes, the City of Ottawa's unofficial results show. The Kitchissippi Times reported on the victory and interviewed Chianello the following morning.
Chianello received 65.2 per cent of the 16,446 ballots cast in ward 15. Subhir Uppal finished second with 2,711 votes. Brian Innes took 2,652 votes. Xavier Commerford received 361 votes.
The result was decided on election night at Newport Restaurant in Wellington West, where Chianello addressed a crowd of supporters.
A ward with new pressures
In her interview with the Kitchissippi Times, Chianello said intensification will be her most pressing file. She plans to bring together community associations, residents and city staff to identify the traffic and parking problems that come with new housing, and to build a list of priorities.
"There seems to be little acknowledgement by government officials that bringing more housing to Kitchissippi also brings other challenges, like traffic and cars parked all over the place that are making streets more congested," she told the paper.
She also plans to keep the newsletters and coffee meetings with residents that her predecessor, Jeff Leiper, ran for 12 years. She intends to add evening and weekend sessions to reach people who work during the day.
Bayview Yards
Another early focus for Chianello will be Bayview Yards, a large city-owned property in Ottawa's urban core that sits near the junction of two LRT lines. The Kitchissippi Times reported that Chianello sees the site as an opportunity for affordable housing, recreation and community amenities, and that residents must shape what is built there.
Chianello told the paper the site is "a huge opportunity to build something new" that residents can shape "on the ground floor" and be proud of for generations.
A journalist at city hall
Chianello spent three decades as a journalist at the Ottawa Citizen and CBC Ottawa, where she reported on municipal politics and investigated problems with the city's LRT system. She told the Kitchissippi Times that while her journalism background gives her knowledge of city hall, serving as an elected official will be a different experience.
The Kitchissippi Times reports that her win brings the number of women on Ottawa City Council to 13, against 12 men including Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. The paper says this is the first time women have held a majority of council seats since the city's amalgamation in 2001.
When she takes office
The new council takes office on November 15, 2026, under Ontario's Municipal Elections Act, 1996. The first major task for Chianello will be the municipal budget process.
Residents of Kitchissippi Ward can follow Chianello's commitments on her voche.me page and on the promise tracker.
Questions this story answers
How many votes did Joanne Chianello receive in the Kitchissippi Ward race?
Joanne Chianello received 10,722 votes in ward 15 on October 26, 2026, according to the City of Ottawa's unofficial results. That total gave her 65.2 per cent of the ballots cast in the ward. Her closest challenger, Subhir Uppal, received 2,711 votes.
Who else ran in Kitchissippi Ward?
Four candidates ran in Kitchissippi Ward on October 26. Joanne Chianello won with 10,722 votes. Subhir Uppal finished second with 2,711 votes. Brian Innes took 2,652 votes. Xavier Commerford received 361 votes, according to the City's unofficial results.
What are Joanne Chianello's plans for Kitchissippi Ward?
In an interview with the Kitchissippi Times, Chianello said she plans to bring community associations, residents and city staff together to identify traffic concerns caused by new housing density and set priorities. She also intends to hold regular coffee meetings with residents, including evenings and weekends. She plans to work on the future of Bayview Yards, a large city-owned property near two LRT lines, and says residents must shape what is built there.
What is the significance of Chianello's win for women on Ottawa City Council?
The Kitchissippi Times reports that women will hold 13 of 25 seats on Ottawa City Council following the October 26 election, including Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. The paper says this is the first time women have held a majority of seats since the city's 2001 amalgamation. That figure includes 12 women councillors plus the mayor.
What is Bayview Yards and why does it matter to Kitchissippi residents?
Bayview Yards is one of the few large city-owned properties left in Ottawa's urban core. It sits near the intersection of two LRT lines in the Kitchissippi Ward area. Chianello told the Kitchissippi Times she sees an opportunity to use the land for affordable housing, recreation and community amenities, and that residents must have a meaningful role in planning its future.
What was Jeff Leiper's connection to the Kitchissippi Ward race?
Jeff Leiper served as Kitchissippi Ward councillor for 12 years before running for mayor in the 2026 election. He endorsed Chianello and told the Kitchissippi Times he hopes she will continue to prioritize affordable housing and ensure the ward's prosperity reaches residents of all income levels. Leiper came second in the mayoral race with 33.9 per cent of the vote.
How can Kitchissippi residents engage with their new councillor?
Chianello told the Kitchissippi Times she intends to hold regular newsletters and coffee meetings with residents, including sessions in evenings and on weekends. Residents can track her commitments on her voche.me profile at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/joanne-chianello and on the promise tracker at /on/ottawa-2026/tracker.
When does Joanne Chianello take office?
Chianello and the rest of the new Ottawa City Council take office on November 15, 2026, under section 6(1) of Ontario's Municipal Elections Act, 1996. The City Clerk formally declares the results under section 55 of the same Act.
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