Kitchissippi council candidate Michelle Groulx withdraws from race citing unforeseen circumstances

Michelle Groulx has withdrawn from the race to become Kitchissippi's next city councillor, announcing her decision Monday on Facebook. She cited "recent unforeseen circumstances" but did not elaborate on the reasons behind her decision.

"Today, I have withdrawn my candidacy for Ottawa City Councillor in Kitchissippi Ward due to recent unforeseen circumstances — truthfully, I'm quite saddened," she wrote, thanking residents who supported her campaign and those who welcomed her at their doors.

Groulx entered the race earlier this year as Kitchissippi prepared for its first change in representation at city hall in more than a decade. Incumbent councillor Jeff Leiper, who has represented the ward since 2014, is not seeking a fourth term and is instead running for mayor.

When Groulx first spoke with the Kitchissippi Times about her candidacy in April, she cited the opportunity created by Leiper's departure. She served as executive director of the Westboro Village Business Improvement Area from 2018 to 2020 and later became executive director of the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas, representing 18 BIAs and more than 7,200 businesses across the city between 2021 and 2024.

Despite leaving the council race, Groulx indicated she intends to remain involved in community and economic development work in Ottawa. In her announcement, she praised the remaining candidates—former CBC Ottawa municipal affairs reporter Joanne Chianello, former Hintonburg community association president Brian Innes, and entrepreneur Subhir Uppal—without endorsing any of them. Nominations close later this month, and election day is October 26.