Seven Ottawa-area councillors running unopposed as August 21 nomination deadline approaches

Seven Ottawa-area councillors are running unopposed so far in the upcoming municipal election, with the nomination period closing at 2 p.m. on August 21.

Stéphanie Plante, first elected to Rideau-Vanier in November 2022, announced she will file her nomination papers on July 24. Plante served as vice-chair of the built heritage committee and as a member of the community services and emergency preparedness committees during her first term, and has been an outspoken advocate for the Rideau-Vanier ward, which includes the ByWard Market, Lowertown, and Vanier. "We did a community event with sponsors on Sunday and I didn't want them to be tagged as supporting a 'candidate' vs. councillor," she said. She will face competition from Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustee Lyra Evans, who has served as trustee for Zone 6 since 2022.

Six other incumbent councillors are running unopposed: Laura Dudas (Orléans West-Innes), Cathy Curry (Kanata North), Laine Johnson (College), Riley Brockington (River), David Brown (Rideau-Jock), and Isabelle Skalski (Osgoode). Skalski was elected to council in a June 2025 byelection following the departure of former councillor George Darouze, who moved to provincial politics.

Other wards are shaping up to be competitive. Stittsville has eight candidates registered after Coun. Glen Gower announced he will not seek a third term. Orléans East-Cumberland's Matt Luloff is facing the largest group of challengers, with six candidates vying for his seat. Jeff Leiper is running for mayor after 12 years as Kitchissippi councillor, leaving four candidates competing for his seat.

The nomination and registration period began May 1 and runs until August 21. Voting day is October 26.