Wilson Lo becomes first ever councillor for Barrhaven East
CBC News | Posted: October 25, 2022 2:46 AM | Last Updated: October 25, 2022
Ward 24 was created to reflect growth in southwest Ottawa suburb
The brand new ward of Barrhaven East will be represented by Wilson Lo after a race featuring seven candidates.
Safety engineer Guy Boone; investment manager Patrick Brennan; retired financial consultant Kathleen Caught; teacher Richard Garrick; volunteer Dominik Janelle; Lo, a city communications officer; and Atiq Qureshi, a manager at a tax firm, all vied to become the suburban ward's first council representative.
Lo's priorities included widening Greenbank Road and Prince of Wales Drive in the Greenbelt and upgrading/adding pathways there, restructuring transit service, and making collector streets safer.
The 30-year-old councillor-elect credited his success to his dedication to campaigning in an interview with CBC News.
"Four months: six days a week for the first three months, then seven days a week for all of October, 7.5 hours a day out there to meet all of our neighbours ... 960,712 steps, I have a half-centimetre of sole left in my shoes."
He said this new council needs to make communication between urban, suburban and rural wards a priority.
WATCH | Lo's priorities for the term:
Boone's priorities included Phase 3 of LRT to west Ottawa, community centres and recreation facilities, and smarter traffic signals.
Brennan's priorities included road resurfacing, Phase 3 of LRT, and reducing speeding and break-ins.
Garrick's priorities included Phase 3 of LRT, improving transit service overall, and reducing speeding, dangerous driving, noise and other crime.
Ward at a glance
Projected population 2022: 52,580
Projected population 2026: 53,215