Joanne Chianello wins Kitchissippi Ward in first bid for council
Former CBC and Ottawa Citizen journalist Joanne Chianello won the open Kitchissippi Ward seat on October 26, defeating three challengers including Brian Innes, Subhir Uppal, and Xavier Commerford.
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Former CBC and Ottawa Citizen journalist Joanne Chianello won the Kitchissippi Ward council seat on October 26, defeating three challengers in a race with no incumbent, the Ottawa Citizen reported on Tuesday.
Chianello defeated Brian Innes, a former Hintonburg community association president; Subhir Uppal, a tech entrepreneur and ethics instructor; and Xavier Commerford, a former entrepreneur and community activist. The Ottawa Citizen did not publish vote totals.
Why the seat was open
Former councillor Jeff Leiper left the Kitchissippi seat to run for mayor in 2026. Leiper finished second in the mayoral race behind incumbent Mark Sutcliffe. His departure left all four candidates competing for an open seat.
How Chianello ran
The Ottawa Citizen reported that Chianello ran her campaign for about one year, working with about 100 volunteers. Her team conducted 260 canvasses and held 10,000 conversations with residents. She received endorsements from Leiper, federal Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi, and Ontario NDP MPP Catherine McKenney.
"I'm just over the moon that the people of Kitchissippi would put this trust in me," Chianello told supporters after her win.
Her background
Chianello spent years as a journalist at CBC Ottawa and the Ottawa Citizen, where she covered city hall and municipal politics. The Ottawa Citizen described her work watching council from the press gallery as relevant preparation for the role she now holds. She was running for elected office for the first time.
A growing ward
The Ottawa Citizen noted that Kitchissippi Ward gained about 5,000 new voters since the 2022 election, reflecting population growth in the area. The ward covers Kitchissippi, Hintonburg, and neighbouring parts of Ottawa's west end. It is one of 24 wards across Ottawa, each electing one councillor to serve a four-year term.
Chianello's candidate profile is at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/joanne-chianello. The Kitchissippi Ward page lists all four candidates who ran in 2026.
Questions this story answers
Who won Kitchissippi Ward in the Ottawa 2026 election?
Joanne Chianello won Kitchissippi Ward (Ward 15) in the October 26 Ottawa municipal election. She is a former CBC and Ottawa Citizen journalist running for council for the first time. The Ottawa Citizen reported she defeated Brian Innes, Subhir Uppal, and Xavier Commerford. No vote totals were given in the Ottawa Citizen's article.
Why was the Kitchissippi Ward seat open in 2026?
Former councillor Jeff Leiper held the Kitchissippi seat but left it to run for mayor in the 2026 election. Leiper finished second in the mayoral race, behind incumbent Mark Sutcliffe. With Leiper no longer running in the ward, all four candidates in Kitchissippi were running for an open seat, with no incumbent to challenge.
What did Joanne Chianello say after winning?
Chianello told supporters: 'I'm just over the moon that the people of Kitchissippi would put this trust in me.' The Ottawa Citizen reported that she ran her campaign for about one year, working with around 100 volunteers and conducting about 260 canvasses. She said her team held 10,000 conversations with residents during the campaign.
Who endorsed Joanne Chianello?
The Ottawa Citizen reported that Chianello received endorsements from former ward councillor Jeff Leiper, federal Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi, and Ontario NDP MPP Catherine McKenney. McKenney previously ran for mayor of Ottawa in 2022. Leiper's endorsement was significant because he had held the seat Chianello was running for.
Who were the other candidates in Kitchissippi Ward?
The other candidates in Kitchissippi Ward were Brian Innes, a former Hintonburg community association president; Subhir Uppal, a tech entrepreneur and ethics instructor; and Xavier Commerford, a former entrepreneur and community activist. All three lost to Chianello on October 26, according to the Ottawa Citizen.
How large is Kitchissippi Ward?
The Ottawa Citizen reported that Kitchissippi Ward gained about 5,000 new voters since the 2022 election, reflecting population growth in the ward. The ward covers the Kitchissippi and Hintonburg neighbourhoods in Ottawa's west end. Its boundaries include the Ottawa River and parts of the Queensway corridor.
What background does Joanne Chianello bring to council?
Chianello spent years as a journalist at CBC Ottawa and the Ottawa Citizen, covering city hall and municipal politics. The Ottawa Citizen reported this as relevant context for her win: she had spent years watching council from the press gallery before running for a seat herself. She ran a year-long campaign and built a team of about 100 volunteers.
Where can I see Joanne Chianello's candidate profile?
Joanne Chianello's candidate profile is at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/joanne-chianello. You can find profiles for all four Kitchissippi Ward candidates through the Ottawa election candidates page at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates. The ward page is at /on/ottawa-2026/races/councillor/ward-15-kitchissippi.
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