Stephanie Stretch set to take over Ward 10 councillor seat on Jan. 22

The vacant seat of the Ward 10 councillor will be filled this month.

Stephanie Stretch, the runner-up in the last municipal election, will take over the position of Ward 10 councillor when she is sworn in on Jan. 22.

Kitchener City Council voted in favour of letting Stretch, the runner-up from the 2022 municipal election, become the next Ward 10 councillor on Monday (Jan. 8).

“I really didn’t know which way council would go,” said Stretch about council’s decision. “You can make really strong arguments for both the byelection and an appointment. Of course, I was really delighted and honored to be appointed.”

This decision was made after Aislinn Clancy had to step down to fulfill her new role as MPP of Kitchener centre in early December.

In the last municipal election, Stretch finished in second behind Clancy by only 115 votes.

When Stretch ran for the councillor’s seat in 2022, improving housing and social sustainability were key components of her political platform. Stretch says she now hopes to come good on those goals in her new role.

Stretch was born and raised in the Region of Waterloo, lives in Ward 10 with her family and sees how people in the region are struggling with difficulties related to housing every day.

“I could throw a baseball and hit the safe consumption site,” said Stretch. “The encampment at Victoria and Weber is really very close. This is something I’m aware of, not just in theory, but in practice. It’s part of my everyday experience living here.”

Stretch said she hopes to bring her voice to the council table and interact with constituents in the coming months.

“There hasn’t been a voice sitting at the City Council table now for months,” said Stretch. “I’m looking forward to bringing that back to the constituents.”