Ottawa votes on Monday, October 26, 2026, and we wanted to hear from the people on the ballot in their own words. So we sent the same six questions to every certified candidate in the city, with one promise: we publish what you send back, unedited.
Tressy El-Hawi is running for councillor in Alta Vista Ward. Here are the answers, exactly as they arrived.
Why are you running?
I am running because Alta Vista has been my home for more than 20 years, and I am raising my two children here. I care deeply about this community and I want to give something back.
I believe residents deserve a Councillor who listens, is accessible, follows up and makes sure their concerns are heard at City Hall. I want to bring that approach to Ward 18 and work hard for the people who live here.
What is the single biggest issue facing the people you want to represent, and what would you do about it?
One of the biggest concerns I hear from residents is making sure our neighbourhoods can grow without our existing infrastructure and services falling behind.
We need more housing, but growth has to be properly planned and supported by roads, public transit, water and sewer infrastructure, parks and other City services. I would work to make sure Ward 18 receives the infrastructure and services it needs as our community continues to grow.
Name one specific thing you would work on in your first year in office.
One of my first priorities would be traffic and road safety in Ward 18.
I would work with residents and City staff to identify problem areas using traffic, speed and collision information and look at practical solutions for each location. Different streets have different problems, so I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach.
What is something the City gets wrong today that you would change?
I think residents too often feel that they are consulted after important decisions are already well underway.
I want residents involved earlier and I believe the City needs to do a better job of closing the loop. If residents raise concerns, they deserve to know what happened, what was decided and why. Even when the final decision isn't what everyone wanted, people deserve an explanation.
What should residents know about you that would not appear on a campaign flyer?
I work two jobs while raising my two children, so I understand what it means to work hard, manage competing responsibilities and make every dollar count.
I know what it is like to come home tired and still have responsibilities because people are depending on you. That experience has shaped who I am and the work ethic I would bring to serving Ward 18.
Anything else you would like voters to know?
I am not running because I have spent my career at City Hall. I am running because I have lived in this community for more than 20 years, I am raising my family here, and I want to serve the community that has given my family so much.
I promise to listen to residents, be accessible and bring their concerns to City Hall. I will work with other members of Council and other levels of government where necessary to get things done for Ward 18.
I work hard for my family every day, and I will bring that same commitment and hard work to serving the residents of Alta Vista.
Who else is running in Alta Vista
Alta Vista is Ward 18: Southeast Ottawa, home to The Ottawa Hospital General Campus and CHEO, Eastway Gardens, Riverview, Alta Vista, Elmvale Acres, Heron Gate and Sheffield Glen. 5 people are on the ballot here. Alongside Tressy El-Hawi: Marty Carr (incumbent), Derek McSweeney, Muhyadin Omar Barkhat and Elsa Niyongabo.
They have all had the same six questions. We publish each set of answers as it comes in.
When you can vote
Ottawa votes on Monday, October 26, 2026, with advance voting before then. The City's certified candidate list is the authority on who is on your ballot.
About this piece
These are Tressy El-Hawi's own words, published as sent. We have not fact-checked the claims in them, and running them is not an endorsement. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.
Tressy El-Hawi's ottown page: https://www.ottown.ca/elections/alta-vista/tressy-el-hawi
