City council

Mayor Dorothy McCabe

Email: mayor@waterloo.ca
Phone: 519-747-8700

Committee and board appointments from 2022 to 2024

• Enova Energy Corporation and Enova Power Corporation Board of Directors
• University of Waterloo Board of Governors
• Waterloo Economic Development Advisory Committee
  
  

Biography

Mayor Dorothy McCabe was elected on October 24, 2022. She represents the City as a Region of Waterloo Councillor and is on a number of boards and committees.

Her professional career includes over 20 years of experience working in leadership positions with mayors, city councils and senior corporate leaders, a provincial Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, KidsAbility, Conestoga College and two Chambers of Commerce.

Dorothy led and championed the development of the initial Two-Way All-Day GO rail business case — now the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor. As Mayor, she will continue to advocate for improved transit and transportation for all. As an active community volunteer, she is involved as a board member or volunteer at large with numerous organizations including:

• Parents for Community Living
• ClimateActionWR Transportation
• Glasgow Heights 2 Neighbourhood Association
• Women in Communications and Technology
• Youth Basketball League Coach
• Syrian Refugee family sponsor

She believes our successful future requires unleashing Waterloo’s potential. Utilizing the diversity of expertise, skills and experience, the knowledge and compassion of the people and organizations in Waterloo will enable us to successfully tackle challenges and leverage opportunities.

A graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University with a BA in Communications and History, she pursued further education and in 2012 completed a Master's in Public Administration – Local Government specialty from Western University. As Mayor of the City of Waterloo, Dorothy is committed to public service, citizen engagement and advocating for change to ensure our community is ready for the future.

Advocacy

Read Mayor McCabe’s 2024 provincial pre-budget submission (PDF), outlining the City of Waterloo’s recommendations for Ontario’s 2024 Budget:

• new fiscal funding arrangement for municipalities
• flexibility for housing pledges and the Building Faster Fund 
• increased fund support for post-secondary institutions 
• round two of the Streamline Development Approval Fund 
• ongoing commitment to climate adaptation and mitigation 
• increased provincial funding commitments to meet the AODA standards 

Ward 1 councillor - Sandra Hanmer

Email: sandra.hanmer@waterloo.ca
Phone: 519-747-8784

Committee and board appointments from 2022 to 2024

• Dog Designation Appeal Committee
• Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee
• Waterloo Economic Development Advisory Committee
  
  

Biography

As an innovative health and social services leader, I bring a wealth of experience from health, social services and disability sectors within Canada and internationally.

Throughout my career I have had the privilege of providing executive leadership to institutional and community-based service provider organizations. My experiences in both the for profit and not-for-profit sectors focusing on governance, leadership development, engaging communities, strategic planning, mentoring and coaching will give me a strong foundation for the work to be done as councillor Ward 1 and a member of city council.

We are a growing city. Smart city growth will only be successful when we consider the needs of all residents, reflect the uniqueness of our neighbourhoods, integrate our transportation systems (motorized and non-motorized), encourage business growth and continue to foster the spirit of community. Tied to this smart growth is the importance of promoting green spaces, parks and recreational facilities as well as arts and cultural activities.

I am looking forward to working collaboratively with the mayor, fellow councillors, staff and citizens to foster further innovation, creativity and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines our City of Waterloo.

Ward 2 councillor - Royce Bodaly

Email: royce.bodaly@waterloo.ca
Phone: 519-575-0093

Committee and board appointments from 2022 to 2024

• Sustainability Advisory Committee
• Waterloo Advisory Committee on Active Transportation
• Waterloo Park Advisory Committee
• Wilfrid Laurier University Board of Governors
  
  

Biography

I love the City of Waterloo. Having graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an honours degree in economics and accounting, my wife and I chose to stay here to raise our family. We love living in the northwest end of the city and have marvelled at the substantial growth in the ward and in the city as a whole.

My private sector background is in sales and product development in the sporting goods and toy industries, where I held a number of titles. As a new councillor I have a lot to learn, but promise to work hard to validate the trust and responsibility that the residents of Ward 2 have given to me!

Ward 3 councillor - Hans Roach

Email: hans.roach@waterloo.ca
Phone: 519-747-8784

Committee and board appointments from 2022 to 2024

• Sustainability Advisory Committee
• Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery Board of Directors
• Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Advisory Committee
• Sign Variance Committee
• Woldemar Neufeld Board of Management
  
  

Biography

Raised in Waterloo, Hans has been a Star, Celtic, Lion, Viking and Golden Hawk. He’s made Lakeshore Village his home and for many years and has been actively involved in Waterloo’s amazing community.

Prior to being elected to Council, Hans was a School Board Trustee assigned to the Budget Committee and has been a long time volunteer with Waterloo Minor Hockey serving several years as President.

For over 25 years, Hans has had a thriving career in the Medical Technology industry, building successful teams. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the KW Art Gallery and KW Oktoberfest.

In representing Ward 3, Hans strives to involve all members of the community in decision making and to be their voice at City Hall.

Ward 4 councillor - Diane Freeman

Email: diane.freeman@waterloo.ca
Phone: 519-747-8784

Committee and board appointments from 2022 to 2024

• Enova Energy Corporation Board of Directors
• Audit Committee
  
  

Biography

Raised in Woodstock, Ont., Diane enrolled in civil engineering at the University of Waterloo in 1986. Today, as a licensed professional engineer, she works full-time as a senior project engineer with a local firm.

During her time on city council, Diane has been an unrelenting champion for building accessible communities by planning, funding and installing sidewalks, trails and dedicated active transportation infrastructure.

For over 23 years Diane worked as an environmental engineer with an international engineering firm. As an environmental engineer, her area of specialty was focused on air emission permitting, modelling and monitoring.

She also served the Engineering profession for over 25 years on the Board of Professional Engineers Ontario as well as the Board of Engineers Canada. On these boards, she held many executive positions including President of Professional Engineers of Ontario in 2010-2011.

Diane is a Fellow of Engineers Canada and the Canadian Academy of Engineers.

Diane is an avid cyclist. She and her husband Peter Hicks have lived in Waterloo since 1999 and have two children.

Diane's goal is to work with other like-minded members of council to grow and strengthen the city so it remains the location of choice for innovative and growing businesses.

Ward 5 councillor - Jen Vasic

Email: jen.vasic@waterloo.ca
Phone: 519-747-8784

Committee and board appointments from 2022 to 2024

• Age Friendly Waterloo Multi-Agency Committee
• Waterloo Community Arts Centre Board of Management
• Sign Variance Committee
  
  

Biography

Jen Vasic is a second-term councillor representing ward 5 in Waterloo, Ontario.

She believes arts and culture supports individual resilience and bolsters collective resistance to injustice; responsive and authentic customer service is an essential political skill; and, pandemic-recovery and climate justice is going to take extremely creative problem-solving, bold actions, and a whole lot of compassion when we make mistakes.

In her council role she previously sat on the Advisory Committee on Culture, Heritage Committee, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery Board of Directors. This term she’s the council liaison on the Age-Friendly Cities Committee, Sign Variance Committee, and the Button Factory Board of Directors.

Outside of council she’s a mom to two young kids, partner, Ph.D. candidate studying the schooling experiences of kids who help their families get by, amateur vegetable gardener, and early riser (by circumstance, not by preference).

Ward 6 councillor - Mary Lou Roe

Email: marylou.roe@waterloo.ca
Phone: 519-747-8784

Committee and board appointments from 2022 to 2024

• Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery Board of Directors
• Dog Designation Appeal Committee
• Municipal Heritage Committee
• Town and Gown Committee
  
  

Biography

Mary Lou is a community leader, entrepreneur, writer, mom, wife, and passionate community builder.

Mary Lou grew up in Elmira, studied at the University of Waterloo, and holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and a Diploma in Women’s Studies. She lives in Ward 6 with her husband and two children.

Mary Lou has dedicated her life to making a difference and serving her community.

As an entrepreneur, Mary Lou founded her own business – The Wonderful Women’s Club. She facilitated gatherings and workshops for women, led discussions centred on women’s issues and experiences and supported and empowered women to build confidence and become the change they seek.

A community leader, Mary Lou, chairs local grassroots volunteer committees, including Community Coalition on Refugee and Immigrant Concerns (CCORIC) and World Refugee Day Waterloo Region. She helps to lead and organize community events and forums that raise awareness of and address issues faced by newcomers.

In 2019, Mary Lou was recognized by Volunteer Waterloo Region with the “Outstanding Leadership Award” for her unwavering commitment and advocacy for refugees and newcomers in our Region.

Mary Lou is a strong leader who dedicates time and energy to getting things done. She loves the vibrancy and diversity of her community and will be a clear voice at City Hall for residents of Ward 6 and the City of Waterloo.

Ward 7 councillor - Julie Wright

Email: julie.wright@waterloo.ca
Phone: 519-747-8784

Committee and board appointments from 2022 to 2024 

• Advisory Committee on Culture
• Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area Board of Directors
• Waterloo Public Library Board
  
  

Biography

A resident of Ward 7, I am committed to championing climate action, affordable housing, a resilient Uptown, and engaging the city’s brain trust to solve the challenges we face. I make my home here with my husband and two children.

I am the former Director of Partners for Action, a research initiative at the University of Waterloo that focuses on flood risk and resilience. Previously, I led Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI) – a non-profit partnership between the University of Waterloo and Perimeter Institute – through its start-up phase to successfully launching a decade-long Summit series and catalyzing collaborations related to each event. The series included Energy 2030 (2011), Learning 2030 (2013), OpenAccess Energy (2016), Generation SDG (2018) and Together|Ensemble (2020). Prior to working at WGSI, I spent ten years in communications and public affairs roles for companies, clients, and campaigns in the tech, cultural and non-profit sectors at the forefront of sector disruption. 

Over the past decade, I co-founded and co-chaired the Uptown North neighbourhood association, coordinated a long-running Walking School Bus for the Canadian Cancer Society, volunteered with a neighbourhood-based refugee resettlement group, volunteered for festivals and cultural events, and served on both the WRDSB’s Parent Involvement Committee and as a director at Emmanuel at Brighton Childcare Centre. I currently serve as a board member at Education Canada.

I am a voracious reader and am frequently hatching some sort of plan that involves growing something.