CENTRE WELLINGTON 2026 ELECTIONS – Centre Wellington Ward 5 councillor, Bronwynne Wilton, has decided to join the mayoral race for this upcoming term.
Wilton spoke with The Grand @ 101 in a series where Centre Wellington’s mayoral candidates are interviewed about their platform and their vision for the Township.
She is a lifelong Centre Wellington resident and said “it’s a time of growth for the community and I think we need somebody with a lot of experience and knowledge to help the community grow in a positive way.”
Growth
By the year 2051 Centre Wellington is forecasted to grow to a population of 58,200; as of the 2021 Census the Township has a population of 31,093.
Wilton said for any rate of change Centre Wellington must protect its farmland and natural ecological features.
She said in order to protect the naturally significant land Centre Wellington should prioritize on implementing “gentle” density within the existing urban boundaries.
Wilton was a guest speaker in attendance of the Fight 446 Homes meeting on Aug. 26.
Wilton also wants the Township to prioritize public park planning in the development of future neighbourhoods and update some of Centre Wellington’s existing parks which she said needs “a lot of improvements.”
Wilton is proud to be part of the first Centre Wellington council to adopt climate change into their strategic plan and wants to continue those climate-conscious efforts.
She said water management and preservation will be vital for the community’s future as the growth will be partly dictated by local water levels as well as wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.
Budget and Infrastructure
Wilton also plans to take that climate-first thinking into infrastructure development; if elected, she would build Centre Wellington to be “resilient for extreme weather events,” in a bid to save future time and resources when addressing the changing climate.
In regards to the natural environment Wilton said a Climate Change Coordinator, hired in partnership with another municipality, not only advocates for the best environmental interests but can also create economic opportunity.
Wilton said the municipal budget should be aligned with the rate of inflation.
On housing she said the affordable housing situation is in a “crisis” and said the current rental market is “not healthy” for the community.
She said investments into affordable housing should be supported by the County to provide residence for seniors looking to downsize and young adults looking for work.
As for the local economy Wilton is hoping to bolster the academic relationship with U of G and bring that knowledge into the local agriculture sector.
On Aug. 24, 2026, councillor Wilton put forward a motion for council to consider an interim by-law which would pause the development of potential AI data centres in Centre Wellington.
She said it’s just one example of how municipalities should be taking a close look at industrial infrastructure development.
Transit
On the topic of transit, Wilton reminisced on the days she was taking a privately chartered school bus from Fergus and Elora into the University of Guelph for her studies and said it was a “really useful service.”
“We have to make sure we have those connections for transit for people from Centre Wellington to get to Guelph and back on a daily basis,” she said.
Wilton also recognizes a need for public transit to connect the area in and around Elora with Waterloo.
Parks and Recreation
Wilton said the Township’s parks will need some work to account for future growth.
Strong Mayor Powers
On May 1, 2025, the Province of Ontario permitted Centre Wellington to use Strong Mayor Powers; it gives the utmost authority for the mayor for municipal process such as passing or scrapping by-laws, appointing the chief administrative officer and making final changes to the Township’s budget.
Wilton said she has no plans to use Strong Mayor Powers.
If elected, she said she would be receptive to council’s input on the budget in a leading style she calls “leading from behind.”
Communication and Transparency
In regards to communication she said the conversation goes both ways and will be looking to enhance Centre Wellington’s citizen advisory groups.
Wilton said information distribution could be improved from the mayor’s seat.
To ensure a fair and equitable publication process The Grand @ 101 has reached out to every candidate (Bronwynne Wilton, Kelly Linton, Neil Dunsmore, Shawn Watters and Stephen Kitras) and ensured all avenues have been opened for an opportunity to speak with reporting staff. Publications will be released and broadcasted on weekdays based on a first-come first-serve basis.
Stay tuned with The Grand @ 101 for coverage on the mayoral debate (Sept. 23, 2026) and the next candidate report, to be published Tuesday (Sept. 22, 2026).
