Shawn WATTERS for Mayor
Centre Wellington needs a council that listens, builds consensus, and gets things done. Shawn Watters is ready to continue leading.
Because leadership matters
Years of council experience
Terms of council
Years as Mayor
About Shawn Watters
Current Mayor of Centre Wellington, Shawn Watters is a Landscape Architect and six-terms of council, one-term as mayor, who has spent his career designing communities and building consensus. He has served on Local and County Council, chaired Planning, Land Division, and Information Heritage and Seniors committees, and contributed to boards at Groves Memorial Hospital, the Fergus Grand Theatre, and is presently the Vice-Chair of the Grand River Conservation Authority.
He designed the Elora Green Space and helped redesign Bissell Park. Shawn has volunteered at numerous community events, including Fergus Highland Games, coached minor hockey, and was one of the founders of Riverfest Elora, a music staple within the community for 15 years.
A clear plan for Centre Wellington
Click the dropdowns to see the commitments behind it.
1.
- Make our downtowns vibrant
- Support agriculture and agri-food businesses
- Ensure people working in our community can afford to live here
- Welcome and accommodate tourism and tourists
- Support and attract business development, retention, and expansion
2.
- Support and encourage arts and culture
- Create an inclusive, equitable, and accessible community
- Develop a safe and active transportation network
- Work towards the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals
- Foster youth safety and engagement
- Provide recreational facilities and programs
- Encourage and appreciate volunteerism
3.
- Become a model municipality for housing variety
- Plan for a sustainable and livable community
4.
- Protect our water resources
- Develop proactive climate change strategies
- Protect our farmland
- Protect our natural features
- Protect and enhance rural and urban forests
5.
- Generate sustainable and diverse revenue sources for long-term financial planning
- Provide sustainable and resilient infrastructure for our community
- Become an employer of choice
- Provide innovative and efficient service delivery
- Foster respectful taxation while minimizing the burden on taxpayers
2026 Council-Adopted Mayor's Budget
Key Investments
Experience
Served on 6 councils as a councillor. 3 terms on Local Council and 3 terms on County Council.
Committees chaired
Boards served
What Shawn will improve in Centre Wellington
How to vote
Voting for the Centre Wellington mayoral election runs from October 13, 2026 through to October 26, 2026. You can vote online or by phone. The voter card you received in the mail will provide all the information needed to vote.
For more information, please visit the Centre Wellington website.
Volunteer & Dontations
To volunteer or donate to Shawn Watters' campaign, please contact us via email, phone, or contact form.