Election day is Oct. 24 with voting taking place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Further information on how to vote can be found on Ottawa’s election page.
Where is it?
The ward was formerly called Cumberland before new boundaries were established this year. Ward 19 is in the east end of Ottawa and includes the southern portion of Orleans and surrounding rural areas.
Who’s running?
Catherine Kitts won a 2020 byelection in Cumberland after Stephen Blais left city council to run and win a spot as an Ontario Liberal MPP. Kitts grew up in Orléans and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University before becoming the editor of the Orléans Star newspaper.
Yvette Ashiri won 22 per cent of the vote in the 2020 byelection and is running against Kitts again in the Oct. 24 municipal election. Ashiri is a public servant and community organizer who has lived in Ottawa for 13 years. She has served as a board member for various institutions such as School Council of École Notre Place and the Montfort Hospital.
The two candidates are joined by a third opponent, Shamsa Sheikh Ahmed.
Demographics
The projected population of Orléans South-Navan in 2022 is 47,534 people with 33,518 eligible voters. In the 2018 municipal election, Ward 19 had a voter turnout of 38 per cent. The median age in the ward is 38, according to the 2016 census.
Key issues
Kitts and Ashiri have spoken publicly about the cost of living and the affordable housing crisis across Ottawa. These candidates have also stated a need to prioritize reliable and accessible public transit and maintenance of rural roads in their ward.
Local landmark
The ward is home to attractions such as the the Millennium Water Park and Little Ray’s Nature Centre.
