---
title: "Four candidates compete for the open Kitchissippi Ward 15 seat"
description: "Joanne Chianello, Brian Innes, Subhir Uppal and Xavier Commerford are on the ballot today in Ward 15, which is getting a new councillor for the first time since 2014."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/kitchissippi-ward15-candidates-2026-10-26"
last_updated: "2026-10-26T23:49:09.080Z"
---

Ward 15 Kitchissippi is choosing a city councillor for the first time since 2014, with four candidates on the ballot on October 26. [Jeff Leiper](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/jeff-leiper), who held the seat for three terms, is running for mayor instead. Capital Current reported on October 26 that the four competing to replace him are former journalist Joanne Chianello, tech entrepreneur Subhir Uppal, former Hintonburg Community Association president Brian Innes, and entrepreneur Xavier Commerford.

Polls are open until 8 p.m. Candidate profiles for all four are at [/on/ottawa-2026/candidates](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates).

## Joanne Chianello

[Chianello](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/joanne-chianello) covered Ottawa city hall for CBC and the Ottawa Citizen for more than 10 years before moving into consulting work. She told the CBC that recreation infrastructure in Kitchissippi has not kept pace with the ward's growth. On transit she opposes fare increases and would work to improve reliability. Her plan includes year-round free transit for youth and affordable passes for federal public workers. She has received endorsements from Ottawa Centre Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi, NDP MPP Catherine McKenney, and outgoing councillor Jeff Leiper, according to Capital Current.

## Brian Innes

[Innes](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/brian-innes) has sat on the City's environment stewardship advisory committee and is a reserve member of the Ottawa transit committee. He has led several non-profit organizations including the Hintonburg Community Association and a food security organization. He supports free transit for youth, free recreation access at certain times for youth and children, and expanded property tax deferrals for seniors. He says the ward's one recreation centre is beyond capacity and wants to build more. He also wants to increase police funding.

## Subhir Uppal

[Uppal](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/subhir-uppal) founded a real estate technology startup in the ward and teaches ethics at the Real Estate Institute of Canada. He serves on the boards of the Ottawa Safety Council and the Ottawa Real Estate Board. He told the CBC that targeted reforms are needed to make it easier to build affordable housing. His top infrastructure priority for Kitchissippi is a new multi-use recreation and wellness centre in the Tunney's Pasture and Bayview area. He received endorsements from former Kitchissippi councillor Katherine Hobbs and former Orleans councillor Bob Monette.

## Xavier Commerford

[Commerford](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/xavier-commerford) is a former entrepreneur and community activist. He would prioritize affordable housing and make light-rail transit free. He says he would raise taxes by the amount needed to maintain infrastructure. He also says that one in four Ottawa residents uses a food bank, and he would increase support for food banks and non-profit organizations. He says the city needs to build stronger infrastructure to handle heavy rain events of the kind that have damaged homes in nearby wards.

Polls close at 8 p.m. tonight. Unofficial results for Ward 15 will be posted at the City of Ottawa's results page as they are declared this evening.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/on/ottawa-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.