Chianello Could Be Council Star: POTTER

By Evan Potter

Some readers may have noticed that I’ve dropped Joanne Chianello’s name (pronounced kee-ah-NEL-loh) quite a bit in my columns. That’s because I’m increasingly persuaded that she will be the next councillor for Kitchissippi ward. She will likely be one of the few new faces on the 2026 council.

She is precisely the sort of municipal politician Ottawa could use right about now: curious, stubborn, highly informed on matters municipal, sharp elbows as needed, and allergic to bureaucratic stalling. Chianello was the reporter whose work led to the public inquiry into Ottawa’s light rail transit. Yes, that inquiry. The city’s senior leadership knows that she knows where many of City Hall’s skeletons are buried. In other words, she has the profile of an ideal choice for councillor.