Four candidates make their case for Kingston mayor

Four candidates for Kingston mayor are pitching different approaches to the city’s affordability, housing, and social challenges ahead of the Oct. 26 municipal election.

The mayor serves as the head of Kingston City Council, chairing council meetings, helping set the City’s priorities and direction, and represents Kingston publicly. The position also carries “strong mayor” powers under provincial legislation, including additional authority over the municipal budget and certain City decisions.

Election day is Oct. 26, with polls open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advance voting will take place Oct. 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., while online voting will be available from Oct. 14 until polls close on election day.

Candidates Grant Bedard, Conny Glenn, Vanessa Mensah, and Bryan Paterson, PhD ’06, spoke with The Journal about their priorities.

Grant Bedard

Bedard is running without previous political experience.

Born in Kingston, Bedard said his candidacy is rooted primarily in his life experience and a belief Kingston needs change. Having previously experienced homelessness, he said it was an experience that informed his perspective on challenges facing residents.

Bedard initially considered running for councillor in his district, but decided to run for mayor after Brandon Tozo, who Bedard expected would seek the mayor’s position, instead ran for councillor in Kingscourt District.

Asked about specific projects he would pursue, Bedard said he has ideas but declined to detail them, saying he’s concerned ideas he shares may later emerge from other candidates or sources.

“I have some ideas, but I have noticed as time’s gone by, when I share out my ideas, they end up coming out from a different angle,” Bedard said.

On the relationship between Queen’s and Kingston, Bedard said he would prefer greater emphasis on communication and less police involvement.

“I think there should be more people just talking to each other and working out their differences,” he said.

Bedard isn’t running what he described as a conventional campaign. He said he isn’t canvassing door-to-door and is instead relying largely on opportunities such as media interviews and public events.

“I’m just trying to get it out as organically as I can,” he said.

Conny Glenn

Current Sydenham District — which encompasses Queen’s campus — Councillor Conny Glenn is campaigning for mayor on her record at City Hall and a call for a change in leadership.

An ergonomist by training, Glenn said she ran a national ergonomics and disability management consulting company for almost 30 years.

According to her website, she’s running on four pillars: housing, affordability, a city hall that reflects its city, and community safety and belonging.

She currently sits on the board of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, a national organization representing municipal governments, and co-chairs its Defence Task Force, which focuses on the infrastructure needs of communities with military installations.

“We are in the middle of multiple crises, and I don’t think that we are acting like we are,” she said. She pointed to issues including food insecurity and pressures on municipal services and infrastructure. She argued the City needs systemic changes and new approaches to addressing those challenges.

Glenn said the relationship between the City and Queen’s has improved during her time representing Sydenham District and, if elected mayor, she would focus on keeping those relationships.

“We can’t sort of take our foot off the pedal here,” she said. “The reality is on the student front; you guys change over pretty quickly.”

Among the major decisions facing the next council, Glenn identified the possibility of moving water and wastewater services to a municipal services corporation. She said the model may have financial advantages but argued council must consider alternatives and public concerns before making a decision.

Vanessa Mensah

Mental health therapist and former City of Kingston employee Vanessa Mensah said her experience working directly with residents and later within municipal government shaped her decision to run for mayor.

Mensah has worked in social services for over 15 years and owns a mental health clinic in Kingston, where she works with families, individuals, and couples. She previously worked as a therapist at Queen’s.

Mensah also previously worked as the City’s equity, diversity, and inclusion lead, where she advised the mayor, council, senior leadership, and City departments on equity in policies and services.

“Kingston is growing and it’s changing, and it really deserves leadership that can bring people together,” Mensah said.

Her campaign is organized around four pillars, which she said were developed after listening to concerns from Kingston residents: “A Kingston that works” focuses on safer neighbourhoods, infrastructure and reliable city services, while her City Hall pillar emphasizes transparency, accountability, and accessibility. Her third pillar focuses on housing, healthcare, community well-being, and belonging. And her final pillar centres on creating jobs, supporting businesses, and encouraging graduates to stay in Kingston.

“We want to make sure that the money that is coming in is being spent properly,” she said.

Mensah described Queen’s as an important contributor to Kingston’s economy and said she wants to strengthen the relationship between the University and City by creating stronger pathways for Queen’s research to inform municipal policy and continuing to consult students about their needs.

She pointed to transportation and affordable, well-maintained student housing as areas where students have raised concerns.

Bryan Paterson

Paterson, an economist and faculty member at the Royal Military College of Canada, is seeking another term as Kingston’s mayor after 12 years in the role.

He said his campaign is focused on navigating what he described as economic “choppy waters” created by affordability pressures, the housing crisis, and trade tensions with the U.S.

His campaign has three main priorities: cost-of-living relief, housing, and creating community spaces and safer neighbourhoods.

“I just hear every day how people are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet,” he said.

On affordability, Paterson said he wants to keep property tax increases among the lowest in Ontario and introduce measures aimed at making transit and food more affordable.

Housing represents another major concern. He said young people and families increasingly feel home ownership is beyond their reach.

His third priority focuses on creating what Paterson described as vibrant community spaces and safer neighbourhoods. He said he wants to invest in new indoor and outdoor spaces where residents can meet and connect, while also improving public safety in response to concerns he’s heard from residents.

He said the relationship between Queen’s and Kingston also involves addressing challenges, pointing to street parties and unsafe behaviour as areas where cooperation has been necessary.

“What makes Queen’s successful also benefits Kingston,” he said. “When you come as a Queen’s student, you’re not just becoming a Queen’s student, you’re becoming a resident of Kingston.”

Tags

2026 municipal elections, city council, Election, Kingston Mayor, Municipal elections

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