Dan Atkinson

Guelph-raised, Guelph-schooled and a Guelph parent.

I was born in Guelph, and I've lived here most of my life. All the schools I attended were in Wards 2, 3, and 4: Victory-Paisley-Waverley-Ross. I attended the University of Guelph and graduated Dean's List with an Honours B.Sc. in Biology and a minor in Drama. I later earned an M.Sc. in Kinesiology (focusing on muscle stem cell biology) from York University and a Ph.D. in education (focusing on healthy and enjoyable eating) from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto.

Throughout and between my schooling, I've supported myself (and later, my family) by working as a food server and running a residential house-painting business. In other words: Research, customer service, and the trades - I've done all three, and I sincerely respect every path a kid might take out of school.

I'm honoured to currently work at McMaster University in the Obstetrics & Gynecology department as a project manager and research coordinator for SERENE (opens in a new tab) - a 3-year research project focusing on equitably improving care for people affected by serious complications of pregnancy. Part of my work involves leading the project's patient engagement effort, in which I work diligently to ensure that the voices and priorities of people affected by these events are both heard and understood by the people who lead the project.

I've always had a strong connection to the Guelph community, from attending all-ages punk rock shows in the Ward in the '90s to being a Hillside volunteer for 30 years and coordinator for 9 years. For the past 8 years, I've also been delighted to raise funds for the Guelph General Hospital and our community's Rotary Clubs in the Tour de Guelph.

Guelph, all the way through

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Attended schools in Wards 2, 3 and 4, from K to OAC.
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Guelph Tribune, photo by Virginia Wilson.
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Tour de Guelph, 2019 to 2026: fundraising for the Guelph General Hospital and the Guelph community.

Where Dan stands

I stand for safe classrooms with teachers who feel supported, effective uses of resources, and a positive schooling experience for all of Guelph's students.

Safe, inclusive schools

Every student should be able to walk into our schools as themselves.

All students - including all Indigenous, Black, 2SLGBTQIA+, differently-abled and newcomer students - should be safe and welcome in every Guelph school. The board's Human Rights Review (opens in a new tab) made fourteen recommendations this spring, and I want them addressed on a published timeline rather than left to drift. Every child has the right to a safe education. Safety comes from meaningful support, and from asking students, staff, and parents how school feels rather than assuming we know.
Mental and physical health supports

Every student deserves to feel safe and supported at school.

Almost all teachers get into education because they love teaching and they want to help. When staff and students are burning out for structural reasons, Guelph families feel it. With my background in health education, I feel strongly that all dimensions of student health warrant careful and evidence-based consideration.
French Immersion access

I am a strong proponent for Guelph's French Immersion - especially as I went through our school board's French Immersion program myself.

I have always appreciated being able to speak, read, and understand this beautiful language, and I've benefited from the many opportunities that French literacy has provided me. I support as many Guelph families as possible having the option to have their children participate in the French Immersion program, and I'm excited to use the results of the French Immersion Program Review (opens in a new tab) to support effective French Immersion education in Guelph.
Buildings, buses and budget

Maintaining safe schools is foundationally important, and repairs, accessible entrances and fair bussing are all budget choices.

When we are making these budget choices, who are we hiring, how are we choosing them, and how can we do better? In healthcare it's inexcusable to unnecessarily waste time and resources while people suffer, and schools are no different. Each year that goes by, it is our duty to maintain safe and comfortable learning environments, and to keep them accessible to Guelph families. We need timely, cost-effective and well-evidenced solutions to keeping our schools in good working order.

What does a school trustee do?

Trustees are the elected members of a school board. They are elected to a four-year term in which they work on the big decisions that shape every school in the board.

Sets policy and votes on the budget

Trustees vote on the board's policies and its yearly budget - hundreds of millions of dollars covering staffing, buildings, buses and programs across every school.

Appoints and oversees the CEO

Since the enactment of Bill 101 in May 2026, the board's Director of Education is referred to as its CEO. Trustees appoint that person, set expectations, and hold them accountable.

Speaks up for local schools

Trustees bring their community's concerns to the board table and press the province for the funding Guelph schools need to work well.

Holds the board accountable

Trustees ask hard questions in public meetings, read reports, and make sure decisions match the board's own policies.

A trustee's power is at the board level - policy, budget, oversight and advocacy. That power is amplified by the ability to work productively with others, which has always been a quality Dan takes pride in.

How and when to vote

The City of Guelph runs this election, not the campaign. This is here as a public service - you do not have to vote for Dan to use it.

Election day

Mon, Oct 26, 2026

Polls are open 10am to 8pm. The City has published a polling location list for every ward (opens in a new tab). City Hall is a vote-anywhere location that day, so you can vote there whichever ward you live in.

Advance voting

Oct 10 - 18, 2026

At City Hall, 1 Carden Street. One location in each ward also opens October 16 to 18. Open to any eligible Guelph voter, no reason needed.

Can you vote for Dan?

Two things have to be true: you live in one of Guelph Wards 2, 3, and 4, and your school support is set to public.

Two trustees will be elected for Wards 2, 3, and 4 - so you will get two votes.

What is school support, and how do I check mine?

Every Guelph voter is on one of two trustee lists: the public list or the separate (Catholic) list. Which one you are on is your "school support" designation, held by MPAC. It decides which trustee candidates appear on your ballot. Dan is running for Upper Grand, the public board.

If your designation is not what you expect, you may not see the trustee race you meant to vote in. School support is held by MPAC rather than by the City, and a change is not instant, so check it now rather than in October.

Separately, from September 1 to October 9, 2026 you can check, update or add your information on the City's voters' list, online or in person at City Hall.

Have your address handy - and your date of birth.
Check your voters' list record with the City, online or at City Hall.
Check that your school support says public. If it does not, contact MPAC to change it.

Check your voters' list record

Goes to the City's voters' list service. You can also call the Clerk's Office on 519-837-5625, or see guelph.ca/vote (opens in a new tab).

Advance voting dates and hours

All at City Hall, 1 Carden Street, unless noted.

October 10 and 11 - 10am to 6pm
October 12 to 15 - 10am to 7pm
October 16 - 10am to 7pm, at City Hall and one location in each ward
October 17 - 10am to 6pm, at City Hall and one location in each ward
October 18 - 10am to 6pm, at City Hall and one location in each ward

Ward locations are published by the City. See the City's voting locations page (opens in a new tab).

What ID should I bring?

Bring identification showing your name and your qualifying Guelph address. One document that shows both is enough; otherwise bring a combination that shows both together. Photo identification is not required.

Documents that meet the requirement include:

An Ontario driver's licence or Ontario Photo Card.
Any other piece of identification showing your name and address.
Any document from the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, a municipality in Ontario, or an agency of one of those, showing your name and address.
Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada).
An income tax assessment notice.
A piece of mail with your name and address on it - a utility bill, a pay stub or a letter from your bank, among others.

One thing the City calls out specifically: an Ontario Health Card only counts if the address is visible on it.

That list is not exhaustive. The City Clerk's Office holds the full one: see guelph.ca/vote (opens in a new tab) or call 519-837-5625.

Accessible and alternative voting

Accessible voting devices, accommodation options and assistance services are available at every advance voting location. On election day each ward has one location with accessible voting devices, and the City marks those with an asterisk on its locations page.

Ballot marking devices - a Ballot Marking Device (BMD), an Audio Tactile Interface (ATI) handheld touch pad, and a sip-and-puff device.
Help marking your ballot - from an election official, or from a support person, caregiver, friend or family member of your own choosing. Service animals are welcome, and sign language interpretation services are available.
A scent-free, fully masked room at City Hall - open October 16 to 18 and on October 26.

Voting locations and accessibility

Goes to the City's page, which lists every location and marks the accessible ones. The City's 2026 Municipal Election Accessibility Plan is linked from there too. For anything it does not cover, the Clerk's Office is on 519-837-5625 or guelphvotes@guelph.ca.

Official answers - the City Clerk's Office

Your ward decides your polling place. Your school support designation decides which trustee race is on your ballot. The Clerk's Office can confirm both, and is the right place for any official question about voting.

519-837-5625 guelphvotes@guelph.ca guelph.ca/vote (opens in a new tab)

This page is run by the campaign, not by the City of Guelph or the Upper Grand District School Board. Official election details always come from the City Clerk's Office.

Tell Dan what matters to you!

Questions about the role or an offer to help - all welcome. Dan reads everything himself.

Write to Dan

dan4guelph@gmail.com

Write from whatever email you normally use. There is no form to fill in, and nothing on this page collects any information about you.

Land acknowledgement

It's important to reflect on our privilege as we live, work and learn in Guelph - a city that resides on Indigenous grounds and within Indigenous histories. People have been teaching their children about the ways of the world for thousands of years on these lands, and we have much to learn from the wisdom of Indigenous teaching and learning practices.

This place we call Guelph has served as traditional lands for many peoples over time - specifically the Attiwonderonk and the Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is held as the treaty lands and territory with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Guelph lies directly adjacent to the Haldimand Tract and is part of a long-established traditional hunting ground for the Six Nations of the Grand River, and we are fortunate to call this place home.