Three candidates vying to represent Ward 8 in the 2026 municipal election are campaigning on a mix of familiar neighbourhood concerns.
Incumbent Jim Harris is seeking another term, while Amanda Fellows and Samina Alim are
challenging him for the seat.
For Harris, the next term will be important as development and population growth continue to reshape the city.
“I am running again because I love this community, and because I believe the next four years will be among the most consequential in Ward 8’s history,” Harris said.
“We are growing, we are building, and the decisions we make now will shape this Ward for a generation.”
He added that during his time as a councillor, he has taken the responsibility seriously.
“This role has never been just a title to me,” he said.
“It is a responsibility I take personally, to show up prepared, to ask the hard questions, to be accessible when you need me, and to make decisions grounded in facts and in what residents tell me matters most.”
Harris said his priorities come from conversations with Ward 8 residents at the doors.
Among them are attainable and affordable housing, traffic management, growth and infill
development, fiscal responsibility, community safety and attracting businesses.
“If there is one issue that deserves continued attention from the next council, it is attainable and affordable housing,” he said.
“Not housing in the abstract, but homes that a young family starting out, a senior on a fixed income, or a worker trying to get a foothold in Barrie can afford.”
Traffic and road safety are also prominent concerns, including speeding, cut-through traffic and other neighbourhood safety issues. On development, Harris said growth should enhance rather than overwhelm existing communities.
Attracting businesses and creating jobs closer to home is another priority.
“When I picture Ward 8 four years from now, I see a community that has grown, but that has never lost sight of what makes it feel like home,” he said.
Fellows is campaigning on the need for a change at the council table and said new perspectives can help challenge established approaches to municipal issues.
“I think new voices matter in local government,” she said.
“Sometimes we need people at the table who are willing to look at things differently and
question whether the way we’ve always done things is still working.”
Fellows said she wants to be a councillor who regularly engages with residents. Her main issue is traffic and road safety, which she said has been the most consistent concern she has heard while speaking with residents.
She cited speeding on residential streets, increasing traffic and locations where pedestrians do not feel safe, including school zones.
Fellows said the city should take a more proactive approach to traffic calming instead of waiting long periods of time.
“As Ward 8 continues to grow, I think we need to be looking ahead at where the pressure points are going to be and making sure our roads and neighbourhoods are keeping up,” she said.
“People are talking about speeding on residential streets, roads that are carrying more traffic as the city grows, and places where residents simply don’t feel safe walking or crossing, such as in school zones. I’d like to see us be more proactive about that.”
Alim is also emphasizing safety and responsible growth, while bringing her background in law, policy, governance and community-based decision-making to the campaign.
She said her decision to run was shaped by her experiences, observations of neighbourhood issues and conversations with residents.
“Safety, infrastructure and responsible growth, protecting green spaces and youth involvement and opportunities would be my priorities in particular and community in general,” she said.
She also said she would draw on her business education, training and experience in approaching municipal issues.
“My policy and regulatory experts taught me that growth needs planning: roads, drainage, traffic, parks and services should keep pace with development,” she said.
“I envision a safe, connected Ward 8 where growth is responsible, youth and families feel safer and forward looking, green spaces remain valued and residents see accountability.”
She highlighted accountability and said she wants to remain informed about provincial justice and mentorship policies that could support greater youth involvement at the municipal level.
The Barrie 2026 municipal election will take place on Oct. 26.
