Meet Your Candidates: Highlights from the 2026 All-Candidates Meetings

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Arran-Elderslie Community and Business Association's all-candidates meetings ahead of the October 26 municipal election. We held one meeting in each of three communities:

• Paisley: Tuesday, October 6, moderated by Mary Gail Johnston, with Paisley Ward candidates

• Chesley: Wednesday, October 7, moderated by Wendy Cumming, with Chesley Ward and Elderslie Ward candidates

• Tara: Thursday, October 8, moderated by Don Dietrich, with Tara Ward candidates and Arran Ward Councillor Ryan Nickason

Mayor Steve Hammell spoke at all three meetings, and Deputy Mayor Jennifer Shaw spoke at the Paisley and Tara meetings with her statement being read on the night she could not attend.

We're grateful to our moderators, to the candidates who put their names forward, and to the residents who asked questions. If you couldn't attend, below is a short summary of what was discussed, followed by each candidate's opening statement as they submitted it to us.

What We Heard

Across all three meetings, candidates kept returning to a few themes: affordability and housing, the cost of maintaining roads and bridges, traffic and speed in our towns, and the importance of keeping residents informed and involved.

Moderator questions. The AECBA board prepared questions on issues that matter to local businesses and the wider community. At all three meetings, the moderators put the same questions to every candidate in each contested race:

• Business signage and sign bylaws: how to balance local business visibility with community standards

• Land use planning and building permits: council's role in making these processes easier for residents and businesses

• Rural infrastructure: priorities among roads and bridges, broadband access and natural gas access

• Representing the whole municipality: how councillors stay informed about all five wards, not just their own

• Accountability and responsiveness: how residents' questions and complaints get addressed promptly and thoroughly

Questions from the floor. Residents raised a wide range of local concerns. Some of the topics included:

• Paisley: the Paisley Fire Hall project completion, speed and traffic lights, water meters, the lack of a swimming pool, attracting businesses to downtown, and things for young families to do

• Chesley: pedestrian safety and speeding around the arena, a proposed transit plan that leaves Arran-Elderslie largely off the map and what options there are for seniors and others who can't drive, and how council intends to support our local hospital in its fight to restore a full-time emergency department

• Tara: visible signage for the town, whether candidates support adding development charges to new builds, and whether candidates had accepted an invitation to an online meeting about homelessness which Mayor Hammell and Deputy Mayor Shaw had attended.

The completion of the new Paisley Fire Hall and works building was raised at all three meetings. Every candidate said they support completing the project.

Opening Statements

Statements appear as submitted by each candidate, grouped by position and listed alphabetically by last name. Mayor Steve Hammell, Deputy Mayor Jennifer Shaw and Arran Ward Councillor Ryan Nickason were acclaimed.

Mayor (acclaimed)

Steve Hammell

My name is Steve Hammell and have had the pleasure of being a Dad to 3 Daughters. Married to Amanda for 18 years and a Farmer north of Dobbinton. We milk 50 cows along with 20 Beef Cows and calves. I was the Arran Ward Councillor from 2010-2018, and been the Mayor of Arran-Elderslie for the last 8 years.

I wanted and very happy to continue to be on council because of my Love for our community and the gratification I feel when things improve or when things get done. I feel I bring experience, patience, knowledge of the municipal world, and an above average work ethic to the council table.

I look forward to working with our Community Groups, our Arran-Elderslie staff and our Council. I believe our biggest challenge is that Most things the Municipality needs cost a lot more than they use to. The new Fire truck will be over $800, 000 compared to around half of that for the one before that. Roads, Bridges and vital infrastructure are directly impacted by the costs of materials and Diesel.

My vision of our future is one of tough times nationally and even provincially. The only way to weather the storm will be to work together, be creative, efficient, and very prudent or cautious on what and how we spend our money.

Deputy Mayor (acclaimed)

Jennifer Shaw

First, I want to thank the volunteers of AECBA for organizing tonight. Thank you to the candidates who have chosen to run and all of you for coming out.

Next, thank you for all the support and encouragement and the opportunity to be your Deputy Mayor again. I am proud of what we accomplished this term of council and have learned a lot. We have modernized many policies, started new working groups to engage community members in downtown and accessibility improvements and advocated continuously for our hospital. Nothing is ever perfect and there is certainly more work to do but, I believe Arran-Elderslie is on a strong foundation for growth.

In the coming term, I'm looking forward to updating and improving our key guiding documents. Our official plan, strategic and economic development plans are vital to setting out our future growth, clarifying what we want our community to be and identifying priorities. I hope everyone will participate in these when the time comes.

One of the things I'm most proud of is the team at the municipality and the culture we are building. We are not the biggest municipality, but if we can build a place where people like coming to work and know they are supported, we will achieve more. Empowering our staff starts with us as council members. Respecting their roles is important. We hire qualified people and trusting them to do their job is part of this job. This doesn't mean there isn't accountability. We address concerns through the CAO and as a council, we must ensure our performance management process has the rigour to do this. But I learned early in my career that good managers praise publicly and criticize in private. The things we say and do set an example and directly impact staff morale. This is one of the most important things council members can understand and commit to doing. We cannot overstep into operations. Doing so is not only a breach of our code of conduct, it quite likely will not result in a better longer term outcome.

Ultimately, it is about respect and working together. As rate payers, staff, community organizations and council, we are strongest when we work together. I commit to continuing to come to the table with an open mind, willingness to learn and share as much information as I can to help keep you informed. I invite anyone interested in a conversation to reach out to me via email or my Facebook page.

Arran Ward (acclaimed)

Ryan Nickason

My name is Ryan Nickason. I've lived on Thomas Street in Allenford since 1979, and I was born and raised in West Arran. I have two children Rodney, who owns Nickason Electric and Julie-Ann, who is the office manager at Barclay Wholesale. Both of them live on Thomas Street with their families as well.

I really enjoyed being a part of our community and helping people over the past eight years. I'm happy to be a part of our Arran-Elderslie Council and look forward to continuing to serve our community.

I bring eight years of experience on council, along with many years of working as a tradesman right here in our municipality. Through my work, I've had the opportunity to meet and get to know many of our neighbours and community members and understand some of the concerns and needs in our area. I also bring practical hands-on knowledge of water and sewage systems, and municipal infrastructure. I believe my experience, knowledge of our community, and understanding of the day-to-day needs of our taxpayers will allow me to continue making informed decisions and contributing to the future of Arran-Elderslie.

I'm looking forward to seeing the completion of our new Paisley fire hall and works department. It's exciting to see these projects come together and know they will serve our community for years to come.

I believe one of the biggest challenges facing our municipality is a need to replace 17 bridges, while working within limited financial resources. These bridges are an important part of our infrastructure, and finding a way to address these needs responsibly will take careful planning, prioritizing, and exploring funding opportunities. Although it's a significant challenge, I believe that by working together and making sound decisions, we can find solutions that keep our community moving forward.

My vision for the future of Arran-Elderslie is to keep our communities strong, affordable, and welcoming for people of all ages. I'd like to see more opportunities for affordable housing so that young families, first time homebuyers, and seniors can continue to live in our community. I also want to see us maintain and improve our infrastructure while being responsible with taxpayer dollars. Most importantly, I want to see Arran-Elderslie continue to grow in a way that preserves what makes our community special, while planning for the needs of our future generations.

Thank you, Ryan Nickason

Chesley Ward

Joanna Eaton

Thank you to AECBA and the volunteers who put this on.

I'm Joanna Eaton. I work as a midwife with Grey-Bruce Midwives. I grew up in Paisley, moved away for education like many, and it took me a while to move back home, but I am here now and I am absolutely loving it. I have three daughters, two who live with me here in town.

I am running for council because I love this town. My job as a midwife brings a unique perspective to the table. I work in healthcare, and I have the privilege of working with new families in our community, often in their homes.

My first degree was in IT, but I couldn't sit still for that many hours in a day, so I worked as a server. I had many other jobs in there such as working for Elections Ontario helping run their special mail in ballot program when my older kids were very little, before going back to school for midwifery where I graduated with a minor in Family Support and Community Services. I've also consistently worked on boards and as a community volunteer for years.

This community is very special. I've been saying, you can't end up in Chesley by accident! And me being here is no accident. I Chose Chesley with intention. This is the best place to live.

The biggest challenge facing Arran Elderslie will be affordability. We may not have encampments here yet, but we're going to have to work hard to make sure we have affordable housing for all our neighbours. This means increasing housing availability, keeping projects moving, and working with the county and possibly the federal government to take advantage of projects such as the Build Canada Homes initiative.

What I want for the future, is young families. And not just because it's good for my business! This is probably the best place in the world to raise children. We have beautiful parks and trails and facilities, and I'd love to see more kids here.

Sara-Lynne Leask

[Statement to be added]

Jake Sloan

[Statement to be added]

Elderslie Ward

Brian Dudgeon

My Name is Brian Dudgeon. My wife Kim and I along with our 3 Children farm on Bruce Road 40 where my family has lived and farmed for the last 150 years.

I have had the honor of representing the residents of Elderslie Township and the whole of Arran-Elderslie for the last 16 years. I have taken great pride in representing the rural areas of Arran-Elderslie and feel I understand the challenges and concerns of residents very well.

I believe in common sense and that my business background helps me to understand the decisions that need to be made around the council table. As we all know the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie is a business and is fundamental to be run as such. I believe in providing quality services to our residents. I strive to make wise decisions that benefit all the residents of Arran-Elderslie.

I have always been a firm believer in keeping our infrastructure in good shape. I believe in keeping a good line of equipment, maintaining roads and bridges and keeping our recreational facilities open and vibrant for the future.

Some of my personal credits over the last 16 years include the reconstruction of the 15th side road; this eliminated 2 bridges and redesigned the corner of the 5 and 10 side roads to make this a much safer intersection. I was instrumental in the move of the Paisley Library from the existing building to the Paisley Community Centre; the intent was to make the arena and community centre a more viable space and has been a success. I have been a voice for the new Paisley Fire Hall and Paisley work shed. My involvement in this project began at the very first planning meeting where the idea came to fruition. It is now at the build stage and I believe it will be something everyone involved can be very proud of. These were all enormous projects that took dedication and the drive to get things done!

I am very accessible and am very involved with residents taking their problems and concerns to staff and top management if they fail to get satisfaction in resolving matters on their own. I'm happy to help in resolving the matters facing our residents.

I am not afraid to "Ruffle Feathers"

I am not afraid to "Call a Spade a Spade"

I am not afraid to speak my mind!

I am here to represent all residents with honesty, integrity and common sense!

I respectfully ask for your support on October 26th.

Alicia Mariano

My name is Alicia Mariano your candidate for Elderslie Ward Councillor. I grew up Alicia Schell one of 2 daughters of Ron and Sharon Schell down the road where it meets Hwy 21 in North Bruce Ontario. My husband and I have been ripping and tearing a house apart on Bruce Road 3 for 20 years now. We have rebuilt it into home. Our little piece of Arran-Elderslie heaven sits on the Saugeen River just outside of Paisley. When I decided to run for AE council this spring I would joke, "My heart is in Paisley but my house is in Elderslie." But after having campaigned most of the summer and into this fall driving up and down country roads, figuring addresses and ward boundaries, meeting people for the first time or having conversations with familiar faces I have met over the years I can update that statement to my heart is in Arran-Elderslie.

I am forever grateful for the local school in Paisley that all 3 of our kids attended from JK to grade 8. I have been involved in the community wearing different hats, in various roles for many years. I have been a trainer with AE Minor Hockey Association, sat on the Paisley Central School Community Council, volunteered with the local Chamber of Commerce and Spruce the Bruce Committee and am currently on the board of the Paisley Artscape Society. I also attend Paisley Community Working Group meetings led by the municipality's Economic Development Officer. Recently I started a small business, The Red Rooster Snack Shack, working with Bruce County's Business to Bruce program at the Paisley arena where I get to interact with families, kiddos and visitors alike. As a promoter of all things arts, culture and music I am always looking for ways to bring people together and enjoy our beautiful public spaces.

I want to see safe, accessible, vibrant communities in Arran-Elderslie. I want to see updated parks and facilities that our young people and older people alike can use for their enjoyment and physical health. I would like to engage with citizens that are looking for ways to come together and support them in their quest for social opportunity, culture and sport. I am very much looking forward to meeting more residents in Elderslie ward as I continue to campaign this fall with my goal of knocking on each and every door.

I believe our biggest challenge in Arran-Elderslie is the rising costs of simply everything. I want the people of Arran-Elderslie to have the opportunity to feel engaged in decisions and process. Strengthen the sense of community with communication updates. I look forward to the opportunity to bring your values and ideas to council this fall.

Paisley Ward

Heidi Maxwell

I am Heidi Maxwell - soon to be retired from a 43 year career as a Medical Laboratory Technologist. I have served the Paisley community as a volunteer for 20 years. Where there is a need I have done my best to step in.

I am running because I have always been interested in community service and responsible leadership. I felt that running for council would combine both.

I will bring a love of reading to the council table as I am a voracious reader. This will allow me to digest the information for council meetings and assimilate what is important to make informed decisions for Paisley and Arran-Elderslie.

I am looking forward to sharing the table with Mayor Steven Hammell, Deputy Mayor Jenn Shaw, and Arran Councillor Ryan Nickason. All of whom I have seen in action at regular Council meetings since May and then joining new councillors from Tara and Chesley and maybe Elderslie - all of us like-minded representatives to make Arran-Elderslie a better, prosperous place to live.

The biggest challenge throughout Arran-Elderslie is the larger volumes and faster traffic - not just in the summer - particularly in our small towns.

My vision for the future is Paisley as a complementary unit of Arran-Elderslie.

Thank you for your consideration and AECBA for giving me this opportunity.

David Stone

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is David Stone, your Paisley Ward candidate. I was asked last Fall if I would consider running for Paisley Councillor. My question back was, "Why me?". The reply was, "You do a lot of research before you make a decision. You are retired so can devote the time required to being a Councillor. Due to being on several committees over the years you have experience dealing with people that different view points and ideas. Add to that, helping to run a family business, and supervisory experience in a unionized environment." By bringing me to the Council table, you will have a person that is best able to represent Paisley. Decisions will be based on staff reports, residents input, and all data available to me.

Over the past few weeks I have been knocking on doors and meeting residents. They have raised some concerns and issues. This was great. Surprisingly there was a large number of residents where the discussion was not always about Paisley or Arran-Elderslie. I am looking forward to conversations if I am elected to Council.

Affordable housing is a major challenge in Arran-Elderslie. Much of the issue is created by fixed costs attached to building or renovating. The municipality can help in the reduction of costs by reducing or eliminating building permits and development fees. Does the municipality have any property that housing can be built on? This could be donated to a builder for low cost housing. Organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity could become involved, and greatly reduce costs. Volunteers do much of the work on a build. Quite often tradespeople and materials are discounted or donated. Let's keep young families moving into or staying in Paisley with homeownership. This contributes to the tax base. It also ensures the continuing success of our local businesses. Let's keep our arenas and sports fields full of young athletes. We are an active community. Keep up with this momentum moving forward.

Thank you for your time.

Patricia Wright

Good evening, and thank you to the Community and Business Association for hosting. I’m Trisha Wright, and I’m a consultant, educator and a mediator who works in alternative dispute resolution. In my regular work, I study patterns, assess risk and find the weak spots, then put safeguards in place.

THE PROBLEM: WHY YOU ARE RUNNING From 2021 to 2024, only about 61 cents of every capital dollar budgeted was spent. The Paisley fire hall went from about 3 million dollars to 4.7 million in one year. A Tara Arena roof repair went from 15,000 dollars in one budget to 364,000 in the next.

WHO GETS THE WORK And the work isn’t always open to the businesses in this room. Since 2022, Council has waived normal bidding at least 28 times, on about 2 million dollars of work. Eight of every ten of those dollars went to just seven big contracts. The 2025 rules dropped the local-supplier preference and guarantee open bidding only over 100,000 dollars, yet even bigger purchases are still being waived. When one department head picks who gets invited, there’s no open competition, no way in for new local businesses, and no protection against even the appearance of favouritism.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE Our biggest challenge is even bigger. Our own Asset Management Plan says we’re about 6.5 million dollars a year short of what it takes to keep up our roads, bridges, pipes and buildings. That’s more than 2,000 dollars per household. We can’t tax our way out of that. We have to plan our way out.

WHAT YOU BRING: YOUR FIX AND VISION Plan it: a multi-year budget, so there are no more surprise first drafts. Build it: a public project tracker every quarter, and every job over 25,000 dollars posted publicly. Report it: we budgeted about 59,000 dollars for two consultant plans with 74 ways to measure results. None was ever reported. I’ll bring a motion for an annual public scorecard.

Tara Ward

Jaclynn Gowan

Good evening everyone, and thank you for being here tonight.

I'd like to begin by thanking the organizers AECBA, the volunteers, my fellow candidates Joel and Rick, and most importantly the residents who have taken the time to attend. The fact that you're here demonstrates your commitment to our community, and I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you this evening.

My name is Jaclynn Gowan, and I am asking for your support as I run for Council in Arran-Elderslie.

I am a wife, a mother, a public servant, and a former small business owner. Like many families in our community, my husband and I are balancing careers, raising children, planning for the future, and navigating many of the same challenges facing residents today. Those experiences have provided me with a practical understanding of the issues that matter to local families.

My connection to this municipality runs deep. I grew up in Chesley now proudly call Tara home. Having lived in different parts of Arran-Elderslie, I've seen firsthand the unique strengths of our communities and the importance of working together as one municipality while respecting what makes each community special.

Professionally, I have built my career in the Ontario Public Service and currently work with the Ministry of Natural Resources, where I help navigate complex issues involving land use planning, legislation, stakeholder engagement, resource management, and problem-solving. My work requires me to evaluate information, bring people together, ask difficult questions, and make informed decisions. Those skills are directly transferable to municipal government.

I have also pursued education in law and security, which has strengthened my understanding of governance, and responsible decision-making.

I understand the realities faced by local business owners because I operated a small business in Tara for more than a decade. I learned what it means to serve the public. I had the privilege of caring for seniors in our community, which taught me the importance of dignity, independence, and ensuring people feel heard and valued.

One of the reasons I decided to run is because I believe my generation needs to become more involved in shaping the future of our communities. It is easy to say we're too busy, but strong communities don't happen by accident. They are built by people who are willing to step forward, get involved, and contribute to something bigger than themselves.

I also believe strong female leadership matters. I want young women and girls in our community to see that leadership positions are open to them and that their voices belong at the decision-making table.

If elected, I will bring a practical, common-sense approach to Council.

I will listen, ask questions, do my homework, and make decisions based on facts, fairness, and the long-term interests of Arran-Elderslie.

I believe in responsible spending, transparent decision-making, supporting local businesses, planning for growth, and ensuring residents feel heard and respected.

Most importantly, I don't believe good ideas belong to any one person. The best decisions are made when residents are engaged and feel their voices matter. I need your support, but I also need your input, your experiences, and your perspectives.

It would be an honour to earn your trust, your vote, and the opportunity to serve the residents of Arran-Elderslie.

Thank you.

Joel MacCallum

Good evening, Friends and Neighbours. Thank you to the Arran-Elderslie Community and Business Association for organizing tonight's meeting, and most of all, thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to be here.

I'm Joel MacCallum, and I'm running to represent Tara on Council.

I'm a proud father and uncle, an educated paralegal, and a non-profit manager. I've owned small businesses, worked for major corporations, and built large construction projects. I've lived in large cities and small communities across North America, and I'm proud to call Arran-Elderslie home.

I'm running because I believe Tara deserves a strong, effective voice, and our municipality deserves leadership that listens, asks thoughtful questions and follows through.

Residents should feel comfortable bringing their concerns to Council. They should be able to understand how their money is spent, why decisions are made, and what happens next.

At the council table, I will bring experience in governance, finance, regulatory compliance, risk management and capital planning. Just as importantly, I will bring practical judgment, curiosity and a willingness to work with people who see things differently.

I don't expect to have every answer. I do expect to do my homework, ask the difficult questions and make decisions I can explain and stand behind.

I believe our biggest challenge is maintaining the infrastructure and services we depend on while keeping this community affordable. Roads, bridges and essential systems require investment. Families, seniors, farmers and business owners also need financial breathing room. Meeting that challenge will require clear priorities, timely maintenance, realistic budgets and careful consideration of the long-term cost of every decision.

My vision is an Arran-Elderslie where young people can build a future, families can find suitable housing, seniors can remain connected, and local businesses can thrive.

A municipality with safe roads, dependable infrastructure, vibrant downtowns and accessible healthcare. A place that welcomes thoughtful growth while protecting its farmland, rural character and sense of community.

If elected, I will represent Tara while taking my responsibility to the entire municipality seriously.

I'm asking for your support to help make Arran-Elderslie an even better place to live, work and belong. Thank you.

Rick Mikula

Good evening, my name is Rick Mikula; I would like to thank the Arran-Elderslie Community Business Association for hosting this event, and everyone that's taken the time to come out here tonight.

I'm running for the position of Tara Ward Councillor because of my desire to give back to the community, the one which so graciously accepted me eight years ago. I'm running for this position because I want to help advance the needs of our community. Its members, and the many community groups that make up our foundation. I'm running because I know that I can do this without bias, and with an equal voice for all. Being retired, I can do this as a full time endeavour, not a part-time pursuit.

I bring a wealth of experience, from nearly three decades as a Program Liaison Officer with Humber College. This experience includes building relationships with individuals, and special interest groups. Developing partnerships within the community, with corporations, and with all levels of government. Having the ability to quickly respond to emerging opportunities. The ability to seek out and secure funding opportunities. The skills necessary to resolve conflict and drive group consensus.

I'm looking forward to working together with the community, to advance our shared vision, and help build a strong community for all to prosper.

Beyond this, our greatest challenges will be; to attract new commercial opportunities that ensure economic growth and employment possibilities; to develop affordable housing to support this growth, and the related infrastructure; to address our backlog of infrastructure repair without placing undue burden on our taxpayers.

I envisage a community that provides greater opportunities for all. One that cares equally for everyone, our children, our seniors, our sports and service groups. And of course, the businesses that make our community strong and prosperous.

I look forward to the opportunity of gaining the support of those who are undecided. With your support, we as a community will achieve what's necessary, to ensure a strong, safe and vibrant community for all.

Thank you for the opportunity to represent you. It will be my honour to serve our community, and help build a better community for all.

Make Your Vote Count

Voting opens Monday, October 19 at 10:00 a.m. and closes on Election Day, Monday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m. You can vote online or by touch-tone telephone. There are no paper ballots this year. If you need help, the Voter Assistance Centre at the Municipal Office in Chesley is open throughout the voting period. Help is also available at the Paisley and Tara firehalls on Saturday, October 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Full details are on the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie's voter information page.

AECBA hosts these meetings as a non-partisan service to the community and does not endorse any candidate. Thank you again to everyone who took part.