Who's running in the Osgoode ward byelection
Byelection will replace George Darouze who was elected MPP for Carleton in February
The race is on to fill the Osgoode ward council seat, left vacant after George Darouze was elected as Carleton's MPP.
Eleven people have been certified as candidates as of the May 2 nomination deadline — the same day that their campaigns were allowed to begin putting up election signs across the sprawling rural ward.
Residents will vote on June 16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, or in advance on June 6.
Here's who's running, in the order they filed their nomination papers:
Doug Thompson
Relying on decades of experience in municipal politics, Doug Thompson is hoping to get back onto Ottawa City Council after years away.
Thompson was the pre-amalgation mayor of Osgoode Township from 1980 to 2000 and subsequently represented the area on the amalgamated Ottawa council.
He retired as councillor in 2014 and endorsed Darouze, before barrelling back into the municipal realm with an unsuccessful challenge of his successor in the 2022 municipal election.
Thompson's election website lists a number of priorities, including roads, policing and doctor recruitment.
Colette Lacroix-Velthuis
Dubbing herself a volunteer, proud farmer and business woman, Colette Lacroix-Velthuis boasts a career in the tech sector and community experience.
Her election website highlights promises to improve roads and ditches, access to emergency services and the rural economy.
Dan O'Brien
Taking a second run at representing Osgoode ward is Dan O'Brien, who came in third in the 2022 election after Darouze and Doug Thompson.
A post on his social media account emphasizes his roles as a volunteer, entrepreneur and farmer.
Isabelle Skalski
Current president of the Greely Community Association, Isabelle Skalski notes on her election website that she has stepped away from a career in the federal public service to run.
She most recently served as a senior policy advisor at the Privy Council Office.
Skalski's site highlighted several priorities, including well-maintained roads, low taxes and less red tape.
Jennifer van Koughnett
With a background in kinesiology, Jennifer van Koughnett describes herself as a community health advocate with leadership experience.
Her campaign website highlights three main issues: traffic, trails and the Tewin suburb planned for the area.
Bobby Gulati
Bobby Gulati has indicated his priorities include fair taxes, support for local businesses and removing red tape.
Gulati says he has a degree in finance and international management from the University of Ottawa.
Gulati's LinkedIn page lists his current job as mortgage broker who has worked closely with the construction and development sectors.
Gregory Vail
A resident of Greely, Gregory Vail's election website emphasizes decades of corporate business experience, along with local volunteer work.
During a recent debate, Vail said he's been a senior executive with Cummins Inc., which designs and manufactures engines and other motor vehicle components.
His listed priorities include roads, policing and strengthening the city's ties with farmers.
Arnold Vaughan
The city's election website indicated that, as of Friday, Arnold Vaughan had not provided an election website, social media page or any contact information.
Peter Scott Westaway
Peter Scott Westaway describes himself as a candidate with a "single issue political platform."
A resident of Nepean, his campaign website said he believes the Ottawa greenbelt must be changed.
Guy Clarence Boone
Guy Clarence Boone describes himself as an engineer who likes to solve problems in his community.
Boone moved from rural Newfoundland in the mid-1990s and currently works for a company that operates and maintains the Canada/U.S. North Warning System.
Boone said it's important to have at least one engineer on council to help make informed decisions on matters related to the profession.
Dalton Holloway
During his opening remarks at a recent debate, Dalton Holloway said he's a first-generation Canadian whose parents immigrated from Jamaica in the 1970s.
Born and raised in Ottawa, Holloway said he has experience in community services and marketing, and has worked in Canada's Parliament.
He emphasised Ottawa's growing population, and said the ward will need adequately paved roads and emergency services to meet that growth.