Vote Mark Mattson for Ward 1 Councillor

MarkMattson

Wolfe Island is the Heart of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River

Municipal ElectionMonday, October 26, 2026Polls 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Wolfe Island is the Heart of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River

Wolfe Island is and has been a big part of my life, for as long as I can remember. I've lived in several communities in Ontario, but Wolfe Island has always felt like home. My connection to the Island goes back more than 150 years, when my family first arrived here. Most of my earliest memories were made at Brophy's Point, a peninsula at the end of the 10th Line on the St. Lawrence River. That is where I learned to swim, fish and hunt. It is where I discovered how a community supports one another.

What started in summers at a yellow cottage eventually became more permanent. Coming to Queen's University and starting a law practice in Kingston kept me close to the Island. My wife and I have now built a home here and are proud to be growing deeper roots on the Island.

Over the years I've given back where I could, helping Islanders with legal issues, publishing a summer newspaper, organizing a hockey tournament to support our outdoor rink and co-founding the Wolfe Island Literary Festival. Different projects, same reason: this community has given me a lot and I want to give back.

I've worked over three decades as a lawyer, and twenty-five years helping communities connect with and protect the water that flows around our shores. That work took me across Canada and beyond. Today, I hope to dedicate more of my time to serving the community that taught me why that work matters.

Three priorities keep coming up as I talk to Islanders:

Reliable and sufficient ferry service
Emergency services that meet our health and safety needs
Protection of the rural character that makes Wolfe Island unique and special

Living on the Island requires collaboration. It takes practical problem solving and a willingness to work with residents, neighbouring municipalities, the province and the federal government. That's the attitude and experience I will bring to Council if elected.

A councillor needs to listen, share what they are hearing, respect the office of the Mayor and fellow councillors and support our public servants. The issues are real, and the solutions are only possible if we work together.

Municipal government doesn't usually make headlines, but it's where decisions that shape daily life get made: roads, ferries, recreation centres, schools, libraries, emergency services and planning. It matters because of the critical impact on people's lives.

This fall, Wolfe Island will help chart its own course for the next four years. I've spent much of my life helping others navigate the legal and policy corridors of government. It would be my privilege now to do that for the Island and its people, who inspired my love for water and gave me my passion for public service.

Mark Mattson

Election Update

With the last day of summer here and about five weeks until the election, I wanted to update everyone on how the campaign is going.

First, to those who asked for a sign and put it on your lawn: thank you. It is a real privilege. I still have 35 left, so if you would like one, let me know and I will drive it over. A button should be ready this week as well.

I have also been visiting many homes and getting the chance to talk with so many of you. It has been fantastic to hear your visions and hopes for the Island. Many houses are empty when I knock, but I hope to see most of you and introduce myself.

You are always free to reach out if you want to talk anything through. I will keep making time on the roads right up until the election.

What I have been hearing

Emergency services and ferry access

This is my number one priority and after sitting through many meetings of the emergency services and ferry consultation group, it is where I feel most able to help. We are a small community and we need to build trust and relationships with decision makers in Kingston, Toronto and sometimes Ottawa. I have spent 35 years working with governments on community needs and I understand the process and the pathways to success.

Governance

Governance is a big issue. Everyone wants to see improvement in how our local council connects with Islanders and supports their concerns. We have a great model of government at council, with strong public servants running the day-to-day functions. What people want is more support and direction from their elected leaders. I believe that, if elected, I could help establish two new volunteer community groups.

A community liaison group for the ferry

This group would hear Islanders’ concerns about the ferry and work with staff to bring regular reports to council on those concerns and on anything needing discussion or a decision. Liaison groups are standard in communities with big, critical infrastructure like our ferries. I think it would build transparency and respect for decisions involving our most important transportation link. Medical and emergency services also need more attention and better sharing of information about priorities.

A volunteer ombudsman

Neighbours raise many concerns about safety bylaws, nuisance issues and more. A local volunteer ombudsman could help people get answers and share information, which would ease the load on staff and council. Everyone needs to be heard and everyone deserves respect from their council. I believe we can do better here.

Support for community groups

Wolfe Island has great community events and charities such as Wolfe Island Fire and Rescue and Not For Profits such as the Wolfe Island Commons. Our young people also need support to further their education, play sports and pursue other opportunities. These needs take funding. I believe an independent group could help establish a Community Foundation to broaden the reach of philanthropy and direct funds to worthy causes. Every city has one and Wolfe Island would benefit from its own.

The weeks ahead

Over the coming weeks I hope to see many of you at the Meet the Candidates events, on the street or at your door. I will also announce a drop-in where we can sit down and talk, with plenty of time for questions.

I am ready to serve Wolfe Island. Let’s win together. I hope I can count on your vote!

Grateful,

Mark

View or share this update

Experience

Mark Mattson is a Canadian environmental lawyer and the founder of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper (2001), which grew into Swim Drink Fish Canada, a national water advocacy organization he led as President for over 25 years and now serves on the Board of Directors. His work has centred on the swimmable, drinkable, fishable standard for Canada's waters, combining litigation, water science and community engagement, including landmark Fisheries Act interventions and the development of Swim Guide, the world's largest open water-quality platform and the Gord Edgar Downie Pier in Kingston.

Beyond Swim Drink Fish, Mark has spent two decades serving the Great Lakes and freshwater advocacy community: he sat on Ontario's Great Lakes Guardians Council (2016), served on the Great Lakes Water Quality Board and was a Director of the Waterkeeper Alliance for twenty years (2002 to 2022). He was President of the Board of Directors of Fraser Riverkeeper and is a Director of Saskatchewan Riverkeeper and has previously served as a Director of Moose Riverkeeper and a board member of Great Lakes United. A graduate of Queen's University and Windsor Law School, he has testified before Parliament, the Ontario Legislature and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and now brings that record of public service to Wolfe Island as a candidate for Ward 1 Councillor.

Rooted Here

For me, Wolfe Island has also been the heart of my life. It's the place my family has gathered for over a century and the base I've returned to between school and work for as long as I can remember. It was the inspiration for my work as Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and it taught me what it actually means to live on the water.

Contact

Email: mark@waterkeeper.ca
Address: 54 Table Rock Lane, Brophy’s Point, Wolfe Island, ON K0H 2Y0

Follow the campaign

Mark Mattson · Candidate for Councillor, Ward 1 · Township of Frontenac Islands