On October 22nd, students can vote in the municipal election as long as you’re at least 18, a Canadian citizen, and living in Waterloo this fall.

Voting is important because municipal government affects your life. The City of Waterloo (Mayor, Councillor) is responsible for by-law enforcement, parks and trails, libraries, recreation, and cycling facilities on local roads. The Region of Waterloo (Regional Chair, Regional Councillors) is responsible for GRT, garbage collection, police, and cycling facilities on major roads. Both work on attracting new jobs and supporting arts and culture.

It’s much easier to vote this time around too. On October 22nd the polling locations on campus will work for you no matter where you live in the city. These are the Davis Centre at the University of Waterloo and the Concourse at Wilfrid Laurier University. Just make sure to bring a document with your name and local address on it (your lease, your hydro/water/internet bill, or one of these other documents). And if you don’t have any of those, you can sign a legal declaration at the polling station to affirm you are at least 18, a Canadian citizen, and live in the City of Waterloo.

Why Should I Vote for Jeff Henry?

As your city councillor, Jeff has worked hard to make sure students voices count at city hall. As a former University of Waterloo student leader who championed better student housing and increased financial aid, he has made it a priority to connect with your student leaders to understand the issues you face today.

Over the last eight years, Jeff has fought for safer rental housing and expanded housing options near the universities. He secured better transit service and fixed Seagram Drive to make it safe to walk or cycle between the new LRT station and both universities. He also brought local mental health agencies, school boards, hospitals, universities, and funders together for the first time, resulting in a successful suicide prevention program, Skills for Safer Living, starting on campus.

Jeff is currently working with city departments, universities, student leaders, and community agencies to identify gaps in mental health support that the community can help close. He is also committed to better education for students about how to put the rental housing by-law to work for you and who to contact when there are issues with your unit. Jeff’s platform also provides specific details about his plan for more affordable housing, protecting the environment and fighting climate change, and creating a connected and better protected all-year cycling network.