About Ward 5? 

Ward 5 is where my Guelph story began. I first moved to the area while completing graduate studies at the University of Guelph, and over the next twenty years I lived throughout the ward, including Hands Drive, Gordon Street, Ironwood Road, and Janefield Avenue. Over that time, I watched Ward 5 grow into one of the most important and dynamic parts of the city.

Ward 5 includes neighbourhoods such as Hanlon Creek, Old University, Priory Park, McElderry Community, Village by the Arboretum, and many of the student housing communities connected to the University of Guelph. The ward is shaped by the University, the Stone Road commercial district, and important community spaces like The Arboretum, Hanlon Creek Park, Royal City Park, and Cutten Fields.

I know this part of the city well. I’ve spent years walking the University grounds, the trails through the Arboretum, and the forests and pathways of Hanlon Creek more times than I can count.

Ward 5 reflects many of the opportunities and challenges facing Guelph today: growth, infrastructure renewal, housing affordability, economic development, and community wellbeing. As Guelph grows, we need practical leadership that balances responsible spending, smart planning, economic opportunity, and strong community engagement.

Ward 5 Issues

Over the past year, many of the biggest issues affecting Ward 5 have centered on how growth is changing established neighbourhoods, especially questions around housing intensification, the fit of new development within existing communities, parking and traffic pressures on residential streets, and the impacts of specific south-end development proposals. At City Hall, these local concerns have been tied to broader city decisions about planning rules, housing supply, infrastructure capacity, and how to balance affordability with neighbourhood livability. For Ward 5 residents, the conversation has not just been about whether the city grows, but how it grows, in ways that protect quality of life, respect community character, and ensure roads, parking, water, and other services can keep pace.

I want to ensure Ward 5 residents have a strong voice at City Hall as Guelph faces the pressures of growth, affordability, climate change, and change in our communities, and as we work to protect the neighbourhood livability, infrastructure, and quality of life that residents value.

Take a look at the map below to learn more Ward 5.