Nine candidates compete to be Stittsville's new councillor
Ward 6 has nine people on the ballot after Glen Gower announced he would not seek a third term. Traffic, transit and housing are the main topics.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ca.news.yahoo.com.
Nine people are on the ballot for the Ward 6 Stittsville seat, the most crowded councillor race in Ottawa this election, after outgoing councillor Glen Gower said he would not seek a third term, the Ottawa Citizen reported on October 7.
Gower served eight years representing the ward. His departure makes Stittsville one of only two Ottawa wards where a new face at the council table is certain before voting day on October 26.
The ward and its issues
Stittsville is a west-end Ottawa suburb home to 55,000 residents in 20,000 households, according to the Ottawa Citizen. Over the past 25 years it grew from a small farming village with fewer than 1,000 residents into one of the city's fastest-growing areas.
Stittsville Village Association president Deanna Paolucci, who moderated a recent candidates' debate, told the Ottawa Citizen that making road infrastructure keep pace with development is the main concern going into this election.
"The deadlock at Carp Road is the main issue, which I think the commute is exacerbating at this point," Paolucci said.
Upgrades to the intersection of Carp Road and Hazeldean Road are set to begin in 2027. The main widening of Carp Road up to Highway 417 is scheduled to begin in 2028. Upgrades to other roads, such as extending Robert Grant Avenue to Palladium Drive, are at least five to seven years away, the Ottawa Citizen reported.
A proposed high-rise at Hazeldean Road and Savage Drive has also drawn attention. The development plans 153 tenant parking spaces for 456 units, about one parking space per three units. Longtime Stittsville resident Phil Sweetnam told the Ottawa Citizen that this would push tenants with vehicles to look for unofficial parking spots and cause congestion in nearby streets.
What candidates are saying about transit
The Ottawa Citizen asked all nine candidates about transit. Most said they would advocate for funding to bring Ottawa's LRT to Stittsville. Stage 3 of the LRT is planned to eventually reach Hazeldean Road, but that west-end extension has not been funded yet, the paper reported.
Mani Sharma told the Ottawa Citizen he would add community shuttles connecting residential neighbourhoods to major transit hubs, so residents can reach regular bus routes without the city adding more buses to residential streets.
Theresa Qadri said securing a major transit hub in Stittsville would be a top priority. She told the Ottawa Citizen she would work with OC Transpo to review bus routes and stop locations, put in place annual public reporting on transit reliability, and look at on-demand shuttle options.
The nine candidates
The full list of people on the ballot for Ward 6 Stittsville: Chelsea Walton, Devin Michael Fitzgerald O'Brien, Kevin Hua, Mani Sharma, Marie-Ange Yindaki Ahinful, Paul Meek, Sheetal Narwal, Tanya Hein, and Theresa Qadri.
Voters in Ward 6 go to the polls on October 26, 2026. Polls are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The City of Ottawa's voter lookup tool shows your assigned voting place by address.
Questions this story answers
Why does Ward 6 Stittsville have a new councillor no matter what?
Outgoing councillor Glen Gower announced he will not seek a third term. According to the Ottawa Citizen, Gower served eight years representing the ward and described Stittsville's shift from a small farming village to a suburb as an interesting contrast between old and new. Because Gower is not on the October 26 ballot, Ward 6 is one of only two Ottawa wards where a new face at the council table is guaranteed.
How many people are running for Stittsville councillor in 2026?
Nine candidates are on the ballot for Ward 6 Stittsville, making it the most crowded ward race in Ottawa in this election, according to the Ottawa Citizen. They are Chelsea Walton, Devin Michael Fitzgerald O'Brien, Kevin Hua, Mani Sharma, Marie-Ange Yindaki Ahinful, Paul Meek, Sheetal Narwal, Tanya Hein, and Theresa Qadri. You can read their profiles at voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates.
What is the biggest issue for voters in Stittsville?
According to Stittsville Village Association president Deanna Paolucci, who moderated a recent candidates' debate, making sure road infrastructure keeps up with growth is the main ballot priority. She told the Ottawa Citizen the deadlock at Carp Road is the main issue because the commute has gotten worse as new subdivisions were built before roads were widened.
When will Carp Road in Stittsville be upgraded?
The Ottawa Citizen reports that upgrades to the intersection of Carp Road and Hazeldean Road are set to begin in 2027. The main widening of Carp Road up to Highway 417 is scheduled to begin in 2028. Other upgrades, such as extending Robert Grant Avenue to Palladium Drive, are at least another five to seven years away, according to the article.
What is the parking issue with a new building proposed in Stittsville?
The Ottawa Citizen reports a high-rise proposed at Hazeldean Road and Savage Drive plans to include 153 tenant parking spaces for 456 units. That works out to about one parking space per three units. Longtime Stittsville resident Phil Sweetnam told the Ottawa Citizen that this lack of parking would push tenants with vehicles to look for unofficial parking spots, causing congestion in surrounding streets.
What do candidates say about transit in Stittsville?
The Ottawa Citizen asked all nine candidates about their plans. Mani Sharma said he would add community shuttles connecting residential neighbourhoods to major transit hubs. Theresa Qadri said she would make securing a major transit hub in Stittsville a priority and would work with OC Transpo to review bus routes and stop locations, put in place annual public reporting on transit reliability, and look at on-demand shuttle options.
Will Stittsville ever get LRT service?
The Ottawa Citizen reports that Stage 3 of the LRT is planned to eventually reach Hazeldean Road in Stittsville's west end, but that extension has not been funded yet. Outgoing councillor Glen Gower told the paper that more seniors and teenagers will be living in the community over time, making the local bus network more important, and that the suburb cannot keep growing if the only real choice for getting around is a car.
When and where do I vote if I live in Ward 6 Stittsville?
Voting day in Ottawa is October 26, 2026. Polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The City of Ottawa's voter lookup tool shows your voting place by address. You can also find advance voting information on this site at /on/ottawa-2026/races/councillor/ward-6-stittsville.
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