PRIYA VADIVEL — Candidate for City Councillor, Ward 1, Pickering
A summary of Priya Vadivel’s campaign promises, platform and policies. Click any heading below to expand or collapse it.
WHO IS PRIYA VADIVEL?
- Priya Vadivel is running for City Councillor in Pickering’s Ward 1 in the October 26, 2026 municipal election. She lives in the Highbush neighbourhood.
- She holds two master’s degrees, in Information Technology and Business, and reports more than 20 years of leadership experience with organizations including Hewlett Packard, Aviva Canada, Scotiabank, Intact Insurance, Deloitte, The Co-operators, CAA Insurance and Capgemini. She also founded a GTA business.
- Her campaign slogan: “Strong leadership. Fresh ideas. Residents first.”
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
- Fight against unreasonable tax increases and bring accountability to public spending.
- Cut waste, demand accountability, and use technology to make City Hall more efficient.
- Grow Pickering’s commercial tax base to help keep property taxes affordable for families.
- In her words: “Your tax dollars aren’t City Hall’s money — they’re yours.”
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
- Advocate for enough community spaces and infrastructure to serve Pickering’s growing population.
- Champion responsible development that delivers roads, parks, transit and community services as growth happens — not after.
- Protect parks, the waterfront, green spaces and the character of existing neighbourhoods.
- Her motto on growth: “Build smarter. Protect what matters. Plan for generations — not just the next development.”
SENIORS ADVOCACY
- Push for an expanded, more effective seniors’ property tax relief program that reaches more seniors.
- Advocate for independent seniors’ living options so older residents can stay in the community they helped build.
- Make sure major Council decisions consider the needs of Pickering’s growing senior population, working with community partners and other levels of government.
PUBLIC SAFETY
- Advocate for traffic calming, better street lighting, safer sidewalks and safe routes to schools and parks on residential streets.
- Create community safety groups that work with residents, Durham Regional Police, neighbourhood associations and City staff.
- Make sure residents’ safety concerns are acted on, not ignored.
ECONOMIC GROWTH & LOCAL JOBS
- Strengthen Pickering’s commercial tax base and support local businesses.
- Help create good local jobs. As president of the Highbush Neighbourhood Association, she organized a February 2026 job fair that connected more than 200 job seekers with 13 employers.
- Make sure every public dollar is spent responsibly.
ACCOUNTABILITY & REPRESENTATION
- Be an accessible, responsive and accountable councillor who shows up and follows through.
- Deliver better accountability for how tax dollars are spent and better planning so infrastructure keeps pace with growth.
- Listen to residents, including those who disagree, and work with staff, fellow councillors, businesses and other governments on practical solutions.
- She says the top concerns she hears at the door are safer streets, affordability, responsible development, community infrastructure and accountability at City Hall.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Founder and president of the Highbush Neighbourhood Association.
- Volunteers with St. Paul’s on-the-Hill Community Food Bank, DARS Pickering, Ajax-Pickering Road Watch, 100 Women Who Care Durham and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 606.
- Organized a December 2025 food drive that collected more than 1,000 lbs of food. She matched the donations, bringing the total contribution to $3,060.
- Made a delegation to Pickering City Council in March 2026 on the city’s growth.
CONTACT THE CAMPAIGN
- Website: priyavadivel.ca
- Email: ward1@priyavadivel.ca | Phone: (905) 519-9118
- Social media: @priyapickering on Facebook and Instagram
- Election Day: Monday, October 26, 2026.
Source: Priya Vadivel campaign website (priyavadivel.ca), compiled by The Szpinner, September 26, 2026. Quotes are the candidate’s own words.
