In the upcoming 2026 city council election in Barrhaven West, voters will have three candidates to choose from, including the incumbent councillor who has held the seat for the past four years and a school trustee with a history of success in the area.
David Hill secured approximately 43% of the votes in the 2022 election, filling the vacancy left by Jan Harder, a long-time representative of Barrhaven since 1997. This time around, Hill, a former infantry officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, is competing against real estate agent Jeff Balys and former school board trustee Donna Blackburn.
Blackburn previously served the zone from 2010 until the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board came under provincial supervision in 2025.
CBC Ottawa has been engaging with Barrhaven West residents to understand their priorities for the upcoming election, with better transit services to downtown and on weekends being a key concern. Additionally, some residents have voiced opposition to return-to-office policies.
To help voters get acquainted with the candidates and their stances on city issues, CBC Ottawa has circulated questionnaires to each candidate running for Ottawa city council. Voting day is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 26, with early voting options available. Detailed information on the voting process can be found on the city’s elections website.
In the lead-up to the election, CBC News reached out to each candidate for comments. While responses were received from most, there was no response from Jeff Balys by the deadline.
Donna Blackburn and David Hill have provided detailed documents outlining their platforms and priorities for Barrhaven West voters. Hill, a candidate in the 2026 municipal election, has shared his vision for the ward through the submission of his documents and a headshot photo for voters’ reference.