All wards

Ward 1 Councillor

6 certified candidates, listed alphabetically by last name.

Candidates

Stefano Agostino

Background
Born and raised in Barrie; owns a business on Dunlop Street downtown. First run for Barrie council; no earlier Barrie ballot appearances on record since 2003.
Ward-specific priorities
Safety in neighbourhoods and downtown; the future of the 460 hectares of annexed land; road capacity for new development.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact

Shaughna Ainsworth

Background
Ward 1 resident for more than 30 years. High school teacher with a degree in political science, nearing retirement. Ran in Ward 1 in 2018 (26.0%, not elected).
Ward-specific priorities
Traffic calming on high-speed residential streets; lighting and security; local road repairs; the North Shore Trail, Johnson's Beach and neighbourhood parks.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact

Brent Bowser

Background
Spent more than 25 years at Honda Manufacturing, moving from the production line into engineering, quality and project management; now owns a media marketing business. First run for Barrie council; no earlier Barrie ballot appearances on record since 2003.
Ward-specific priorities
Traffic flow and signal timing at the busiest Ward 1 intersections; school-zone safety; parks and green spaces; infrastructure maintenance.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact

Christian Cadera

Background
First run for Barrie council; no earlier Barrie ballot appearances on record since 2003. Has spent several years travelling and cites Japan's self-contained communities as a model.
Ward-specific priorities
Opposes data centres.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact

Hafiz Rahman

Background
His family has been part of the Barrie community for almost 37 years. Has volunteered for almost five years with the Canada Revenue Agency's community tax clinic program, helping seniors, low-income families, newcomers and people experiencing homelessness file returns. Serves on the Lakehead University students' union board and the Georgian College alumni executive council (2026-27). Works at a local bagel shop while studying. Ran in Ward 4 in 2022 (2.2%, not elected).
Ward-specific priorities
Sidewalk repairs and community safety; a leash-free dog park.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact

Pauline Stevenson

Background
Grew up in Barrie and raised her family here. Has degrees in political science and public relations and worked at the City of Mississauga under Mayor Hazel McCallion. Citizen member of the Heritage Barrie Advisory Committee since 2023. First run for Barrie council; no earlier Barrie ballot appearances on record since 2003.
Ward-specific priorities
Absentee landlords and neighbourhood upkeep; speeding on residential streets; student housing issues, working with Georgian College.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact

Compare positions

Each issue lists every candidate in the same alphabetical order.

Property taxes and budget

Stefano Agostino
Rethink how the city raises revenue; property taxpayers should not automatically carry the burden of rising costs. Attract investment.
Shaughna Ainsworth
Keep property taxes as low as possible; spend smarter rather than more.
Brent Bowser
Every tax dollar should have a purpose; regular budget updates for Ward 1. Wants more employers to grow the commercial and industrial tax base.
Christian Cadera
No stated position found.
Hafiz Rahman
No stated position found.
Pauline Stevenson
Control spending, find efficiencies (including through AI) and look for revenue that doesn't rely only on property taxes; every capital project adds future operating costs.

Housing affordability

Stefano Agostino
No stated position found.
Shaughna Ainsworth
Says affordable housing was the main reason for annexing new land; wants to avoid repeating high-density mistakes such as too little parking and narrow roads.
Brent Bowser
More housing options and steadier costs for young families and seniors. Says Barrie needs rental housing; open to rental inspections only if a gap is found.
Christian Cadera
Wants a more diverse mix of housing for a wider range of incomes in each neighbourhood, with more green space.
Hafiz Rahman
Advocate for supportive housing that gives people a safe place to live.
Pauline Stevenson
Wants housing people can actually afford in the east end.

Homelessness and encampments

Stefano Agostino
Residents want effective solutions for people struggling on the streets.
Shaughna Ainsworth
Practical, compassionate solutions that balance compassion with accountability; wants to join the city's Homelessness Task Force.
Brent Bowser
Take homelessness, addiction and encampments seriously, with compassion for people who need help while keeping public spaces safe.
Christian Cadera
No stated position found.
Hafiz Rahman
Links homelessness to mental health, addiction and unemployment; would partner with community groups, employers and government programs.
Pauline Stevenson
Collaborative, practical and compassionate approach, based on research and what works elsewhere.

Public safety and policing

Stefano Agostino
Calls safety a top priority for the next term; residents deserve to feel safe in their neighbourhoods and downtown.
Shaughna Ainsworth
Residents deserve to feel safe on their streets; strong supporter of all emergency services.
Brent Bowser
Residents should be able to use streets, parks and trails safely.
Christian Cadera
No stated position found.
Hafiz Rahman
No stated position found.
Pauline Stevenson
Speeding and petty crime are real concerns; wants action on speeding in residential neighbourhoods and absentee landlords. Says safety is not just policing but also design, lighting and maintenance.

Transit and roads

Stefano Agostino
Road infrastructure must be a priority so the new road network can handle more traffic.
Shaughna Ainsworth
Local roads still need repair; traffic controls and calming on high-speed residential streets; regular maintenance of sidewalks, roads and lighting.
Brent Bowser
Review traffic flow and signal timing at busy intersections and prioritize school-zone safety; traffic-calming decisions should follow traffic data.
Christian Cadera
No stated position found.
Hafiz Rahman
Identify and fix damaged sidewalks, uneven pavement and other hazards.
Pauline Stevenson
Invest proactively in traffic-calming where needed; traffic, transit and infrastructure need careful planning on the annexed land.

Strong-mayor powers

Stefano Agostino
No stated position found.
Shaughna Ainsworth
No stated position found.
Brent Bowser
No stated position found.
Christian Cadera
No stated position found.
Hafiz Rahman
No stated position found.
Pauline Stevenson
No stated position found.

Growth and development

Stefano Agostino
Plan ahead for fast growth with smart decisions on infrastructure, roads, services and housing. Concerned about heavy industry next to homes on the annexed land; wants buffers such as green corridors between industrial and residential areas.
Shaughna Ainsworth
Growth must work for existing residents, not just developers, and must pay for itself rather than adding to existing taxpayers' bills. Wants council to keep as much control as possible over new development.
Brent Bowser
Wants a balanced mix of housing, business, services, parks and natural areas; developers should pay their share of school and utility upgrades.
Christian Cadera
Follow growth strategies that have worked in other countries and avoid the "Torontofication" of Barrie, even at a short-term cost to developers. Says no data centres.
Hafiz Rahman
No stated position found.
Pauline Stevenson
Development should respect neighbourhood character. Will not support heavy industry on the annexed land.

Addiction and public drug use

Stefano Agostino
No stated position found.
Shaughna Ainsworth
Wants more provincial investment in mental health and addiction services.
Brent Bowser
Says drug use, along with homelessness and encampments, must be dealt with thoughtfully.
Christian Cadera
No stated position found.
Hafiz Rahman
Help people access rehabilitation services.
Pauline Stevenson
No stated position found.

Jobs and economic development

Stefano Agostino
Wants a clear plan, with proper infrastructure and community input, to attract businesses and manufacturers that fit the city's long-term vision.
Shaughna Ainsworth
No stated position found.
Brent Bowser
Wants industry and businesses that create good-paying jobs in Barrie.
Christian Cadera
No stated position found.
Hafiz Rahman
Job training and basic workplace certifications to help people experiencing homelessness find stable work.
Pauline Stevenson
Wants new job opportunities, but not heavy industry on the annexed land.

E-bikes and e-scooters

Stefano Agostino
No stated position found.
Shaughna Ainsworth
No stated position found.
Brent Bowser
No stated position found.
Christian Cadera
No stated position found.
Hafiz Rahman
No stated position found.
Pauline Stevenson
No stated position found.

Transparency and council accountability

Stefano Agostino
Says residents want action, accountability and results rather than more talk.
Shaughna Ainsworth
Promises a councillor who listens, communicates clearly and shows up, and who never makes an uninformed decision.
Brent Bowser
Wants council priorities and commitments publicly tracked, including how he votes and whether commitments are delivered.
Christian Cadera
No stated position found.
Hafiz Rahman
Wants to be a councillor who listens to residents, is accessible and works honestly on local issues.
Pauline Stevenson
Says residents expect their councillor to show up, listen, do their homework and keep people informed.

Parks, green space and environment

Stefano Agostino
Cleaner parks; parks should be planned alongside new development, and growth should preserve the waterfront.
Shaughna Ainsworth
Protect and enhance Barrie's beaches, parks, walking trails and tree-lined streets, including the North Shore Trail and Johnson's Beach.
Brent Bowser
Lists parks and green spaces as a priority; growth on the annexed land should include parks and protected natural areas.
Christian Cadera
Wants more green space in new neighbourhoods.
Hafiz Rahman
Wants a leash-free dog park.
Pauline Stevenson
No stated position found.