Full Breakdown
Wave of New Mayors Redraws Waterloo Region’s Municipal Landscape
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Election Upsets Across the Region
Monday night’s municipal election produced a series of unexpected defeats for incumbent mayors in Cambridge, Waterloo, Wellesley and Wilmot. In Cambridge, Ward 7 councillor Scott Hamilton unseated Jan Liggett, capturing more than 56 % of the vote while Liggett fell to 11 %. In Waterloo, Shannon Weber reversed her 2022 loss to Dorothy McCabe, winning by a margin of 6,379 votes. Wellesley saw Chris Martin defeat three-term mayor Joe Nowak, and in Wilmot, township councillor Kris Wilkinson emerged victorious after a three-way race.
02
New Mayors and Their Seats
The election also introduced fresh leadership in Woolwich, North Dumfries and Guelph. Elmira councillor Evan Burgess became Woolwich’s mayor, Rodney Rolleman won in North Dumfries, and Leanne Caron, a long-time council member, secured Guelph with 54 % of the vote. The only incumbent to retain his position was Kitchener’s Berry Vrbanovic, who earned 55 % of the vote.
03
Expert Commentary on Voter Shifts
Andrea Perrella, associate professor of political science at Wilfrid Laurier University, observed that a mayor can embody a community’s identity, explaining Vrbanovic’s strong showing in Kitchener. Williams also highlighted that Waterloo’s history of electing mayors without prior council experience—such as Brenda Halloran, Dave Jaworsky and Dorothy McCabe—may have contributed to Weber’s breakthrough.
04
Implications for Regional Council
Because each mayor sits on the Waterloo Region council, the influx of new faces will reshape deliberations on the regional budget, homelessness initiatives and transit planning. All eight incumbent regional councillors retained their seats, creating a blend of seasoned and newcomer perspectives that could alter policy dynamics.
05
Outlook for the Next Four Years
With fresh leadership in most municipalities, the region faces a period of transition. Observers anticipate that the new mayors will bring distinct priorities to council, potentially reshaping regional strategies on housing, transportation and community services as they navigate the challenges of a rapidly growing area.