Vincent Ball

David Swanson became the fourth candidate to enter the race for mayor of the County of Brant after filing nomination papers on Aug. 19. He said he wants to build on his 2022 campaign, advocate for a basic income and improve the use of tax credits. New candidates also registered for Brant County wards, Brantford council seats and Grand Erie school-board trustee positions. The article lists candidates registered as of 2 p.m. Aug. 20; the nomination deadline was Aug. 21 at 2 p.m., and election day was scheduled for Oct. 26.

A Brant County delegation led by Mayor David Bailey attended the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference and met with provincial officials to advocate for a Highway 403 interchange at Bishopgate Road and seek information about the Natural Gas Expansion Program. The delegation also joined regional economic development advocacy sessions. Bailey, who will not seek re-election, said the conference helped municipalities share challenges, promote local priorities and pursue solutions for residents, workers and visitors.

The City of Brantford and Six Nations have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing cooperation as 3,060 hectares of boundary lands are developed. The agreement creates a Community Prosperity Fund, financed through development charges, to allow Six Nations to share in economic benefits while recognizing its longstanding connection to and interests in the land. Six Nations Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill and Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis described the MOU as a framework for respectful collaboration and shared prosperity.

Brantford-born screenwriter Jaime Kawamoto is developing Pure Identity with director Traci Hays and Mattie Fellbaum of Neighborly Productions. The coming-of-age film, set in Baptist purity-ball culture, follows a teenage girl who faces backlash after her first kiss and begins distinguishing personal faith from institutional religion. Kawamoto, an atheist who describes herself as spiritual, says the project aims to promote kindness, tolerance and discussion rather than condemn religion. Filming is scheduled for Los Angeles in October 2026, with sponsorship from Entertainment 2 Affect Change. Kawamoto is also developing The Wait and The Prospect of My Arrival, while continuing her work with animal rescue and managing celiac disease.

Farmers, including Devon Acres Organic Farms owner Robin Kirby, welcomed the pause in negotiations over transferring the Brant Municipal Airport from Brant County jurisdiction to the City of Brantford, though they expect the issue to return. Brantford councillor and airport supporter Greg Martin called the pause a missed opportunity because airport expansion and development in Cainsville remain stalled by inadequate water and wastewater servicing. The city is reluctant to fund improvements when resulting property-tax benefits would flow to the county. The proposed land transfer was reduced from 1,349 acres to 880 acres, and public meetings to consider the revised agreement were cancelled. Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis and Brant County Mayor David Bailey said completed work could support future negotiations.

Three candidates—Graham Horner, Christine Garneau Bisaillon and Jennifer Kyle—have registered to succeed County of Brant Mayor David Bailey, who will not seek a third term. Kyle emphasizes her experience in farming, council, communications and government relations; Bisaillon focuses on engagement, value, planning and equitable reinvestment; and Horner highlights concerns about healthcare and the need to include agricultural and healthcare voices. Candidates must register by Aug. 21 at 2 p.m., with voters electing a new mayor and council on Oct. 26. The article also lists candidates for all five council wards and two local school-board contests.

Farm Crawl Brant, a self-guided agricultural tour of five farms in Brant County, will take place Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participating farms include Glenridge Hazelnuts, Moore Farms, Brantview Apples and Cider, Browndale Farm and Blue Gable Acres. The event aims to connect visitors with local farmers and showcase food and agricultural production. Tickets are required, and the event is sponsored by RTO3 through its Partnership Fund Program.

David Miller is challenging long-time trustee Dan Dignard for Brant County’s sole seat on the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, making it the first contested race for the position in more than a decade. Miller is leaving Brant County Council after 16 years and cites achievements including Brant Transit, the acquisition of Apps Mill, landfill expansion and rural high-speed internet. Dignard, a veteran trustee with 50 years of service, highlights his extensive board leadership as the school system expands. His record is also linked to the controversy over a 2024 trustee trip to Europe to purchase artwork, after which most involved trustees repaid expenses and another resigned.

David Miller, a longtime Brant County councillor, is challenging incumbent Dan Dignard for the county’s single seat on the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board. Miller is leaving council after 16 years and cites accomplishments including public transit, the acquisition of Apps Mill, landfill expansion and improved rural internet access. Dignard has served as a trustee for 50 years and has held several board leadership roles. His candidacy comes amid criticism of a 2024 trustee trip to Europe to purchase artwork for a new secondary school; Dignard and two other trustees repaid expenses after Ontario’s education minister intervened, while another trustee resigned after refusing repayment.

Ontario is exploring the feasibility of reopening Brantford Jail, which closed in 2017 after serving about 80 inmates and employing roughly 80 staff. OPSEU, police representatives and local MPP Will Bouma support the proposal, citing severe overcrowding in Ontario jails, worker safety concerns and the costs of transporting accused people to distant facilities. University of Ottawa criminology professor Justin Piche argues that jail expansion treats the symptoms of homelessness, mental illness and addiction rather than their causes, and says funding should instead support housing, treatment and programs such as Toronto's Dunn House. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner has not provided a reopening cost but says it could be cheaper than building a new facility.

About 100 people attended a meeting on plans for an inflatable indoor sports dome at Brantford’s Jaycee Sports Park. The proposed facility is intended to provide year-round space for baseball, soccer, football and other programming, retain an estimated $500,000 in annual local rental spending, and attract tournaments. Current plans call for a dome at the existing soccer and football field, expanded parking, and an opening in fall 2027 at an estimated cost of $10.05 million. Some nearby residents support the need for indoor sports space but oppose the location because it would replace a green field, while other attendees raised concerns about increased parking demand.

Ricky Willdy and Leslie Bory have filed nomination papers, bringing the Brantford mayoral race to six candidates after Rhonda Nordlander withdrew. The other candidates are current city councillors Dan McCreary, Mandy Samwell, Richard Carpenter and Rose Sicoli; incumbent Mayor Kevin Davis will not seek re-election. The report also lists the candidates for Brantford’s ward council seats and local public, Catholic and French-language school boards ahead of the Oct. 26 municipal election. Bory’s campaign comes as the Ontario Court of Appeal prepares to review his 2025 sentence for convictions including advocating genocide, promoting hatred and uttering threats.

Three candidates—Graham Horner, Christine Garneau Bisaillon and Jennifer Kyle—have registered to succeed County of Brant Mayor David Bailey, who will not seek a third term. Kyle emphasizes her council, farming, communications and public-engagement experience; Bisaillon advocates stronger engagement, planning, management and equitable reinvestment; and Horner focuses on concerns about the direction of the county, healthcare and ensuring agricultural and other community voices are heard. The municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 26, with nominations closing Aug. 21 at 2 p.m.; the article also lists candidates for council and local school-board seats.

Farm Crawl Brant, a one-day self-guided tour of five farms in Brant County, is scheduled for Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can tour Glenridge Hazelnuts, Moore Farms, Brantview Apples and Cider, Browndale Farm and Blue Gable Acres to learn how local agricultural products are grown and produced. The event is sponsored by RTO3 through its Partnership Fund Program, and tickets are required.

Participation Support Services is seeking a new executive director after Sherry Kerr announced she will retire at the end of 2026 following nearly 20 years leading the agency. Board chair Paul Oddi credited Kerr with expanding services, strengthening partnerships, achieving four-year accreditation, developing a strategic plan, and advancing supports for adults with physical disabilities. The board has hired Maxwell Management Group Ltd. to lead the executive search and is planning a seamless transition while the agency continues its services and strategic priorities.