Municipal Election 2026: Who’s Running in the Town of Grand Valley

Mayor 

Paul Latam (current council member)

Email: [email protected]

What experience or background do you bring to the table? 
I’ve served on council for over five years, maintaining direct, daily contact with residents. Raised in Hillsburgh, I run a local business with my wife and work as an executive in the agricultural equipment manufacturing industry. My governance experience includes board positions with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) and several local non-profits. 

What is an important issue affecting your community, and where do you stand on it?
Grand Valley faces significant upcoming growth, but our heavy reliance on residential property taxes strains local affordability. To prepare properly, we must balance our tax base. I am committed to reviewing municipal services to minimize tax hikes while actively driving commercial and industrial growth on our employment lands. 

Why should voters elect you? 
My focus on council has always been clear: ask tough questions, scrutinize every side of an issue and put Grand Valley first. The coming term will demand hard decisions and pragmatic leadership. I bring the hands-on municipal experience, business background, and proven track record required to guide council through those challenges.

Steve Soloman (incumbent)

Email: [email protected]

Deputy Mayor 

Martin Kouyoumdjian

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://martinkouyoumdjian.com

What experience or background do you bring to the table?
I bring more than 20 years of business and technology experience, including national leadership responsibilities at Microsoft and helping build business at Logics Technology. Since moving to Grand Valley in 2016, I have served on the town’s Economic Development Committee and have been an active member of the Lions Club. I have also helped local businesses learn about and apply for the My Main Street Business Sustainability Stream, and for the past two years I have helped teach technology skills to seniors at the library. I understand how to listen, communicate clearly, coordinate people and help good ideas move forward.

What is an important issue affecting your community, and where do you stand on it?
Grand Valley is growing, and our public spaces, infrastructure and planning need to keep pace. Growth should strengthen community through thoughtful development, accessible parks and trails, recreation opportunities, reliable public works and support for tourism. New housing is only one part of the picture. Council must plan ahead, explain trade-offs clearly and make sure residents can help shape decisions before they become permanent. I support growth that respects Grand Valley’s character while improving the everyday places and services that bring long-time residents and new neighbours together.

Why should voters elect you?
I am running to bring thoughtful, practical leadership to the deputy mayor’s role. I have lived in Grand Valley since 2016, my children attend school here, and I am actively involved in the community. My professional experience has taught me how to work across organizations, communicate with different audiences and keep complex work moving. I will listen carefully, ask useful questions and work constructively with residents, staff, businesses, council and the mayor. I want to help Grand Valley grow as one strong, welcoming community while keeping residents informed along the way.

Philip Rentsch (incumbent)

Email: [email protected]

What experience or background do you bring to the table?
I have served on Grand Valley council for 12 years, eight of them as deputy mayor. There will be at least three new faces at the council table next term; my experience will balance the enthusiasm my colleagues will bring to the team. My day (and afternoon, evening and sometimes night) job is as a dairy farmer. Operating a farm requires the same skills as serving on council: a willingness to work hard, balance competing priorities, make difficult decisions, and plan for the future while solving the problems of the present.

What is an important issue affecting your community, and where do you stand on it?
Property taxes are high and the vast majority of our funding comes from residential properties. Costs are rising faster than the rate of inflation and infrastructure needs continue to grow. We must diversify our tax base, especially in the commercial and employment sectors. For residential, we need to focus on infill development that does not require new infrastructure and higher density housing instead of more single detached houses. The town still has surplus properties that can be sold. We should use a portion of the proceeds to create an endowment fund that will provide a steady source of annual revenue.

Why should voters elect you?
I love this community. I grew up here, and I want to continue helping to make it better.  We are an urban and rural municipality, and I firmly believe there needs to be representation from all parts of the community. And while I proudly claim to represent the former township of East Luther, I will always base my decisions on what I believe is best for the town of Grand Valley.

Jennifer Tovell

Email: [email protected]

What experience or background do you bring to the table? 
I bring a long history of community involvement, volunteer leadership and professional experience working with people. I have served on local boards, including Fiddlehead Care Farm and the Grand Valley Agricultural Society, and contributed to community organizations and initiatives. Professionally, I have worked as an American Sign Language/English interpreter for more than 20 years; this has taught me the importance of listening carefully, communicating clearly and finding common ground. Most importantly, I bring a genuine understanding of and commitment to Grand Valley. I know this community, I care about its future, and I am prepared to do the work.

What is an important issue affecting your community, and where do you stand on it?
The residential tax burden is an important issue for Grand Valley, particularly as our community continues to grow and the cost of providing services increases. We need a stronger and more diverse economic base, including appropriate commercial and industrial development, to help broaden the tax base and ease pressure on residential taxpayers. I recognize that this has been a challenge for decades and there is no quick fix. Attracting the right businesses requires planning, infrastructure, investment and patience. Nevertheless, I believe it should be a priority, while ensuring development is thoughtful and consistent with the character of Grand Valley.

Why should voters elect you?
I believe voters should elect someone who will listen, ask questions, work collaboratively and be willing to look at challenges from a fresh perspective. I am not a career politician, and I am not running because I think I have all the answers. I am running because I care deeply about Grand Valley and believe my professional leadership experience, community involvement and ability to bring people together would be valuable at the council table. I will approach the role with honesty, curiosity and accountability, and I will work hard to ensure our community’s voice is heard.

Councillor (3 positions)

• Charlie Brady – [email protected]
• Parul Burge – [email protected]
• Joshua King – [email protected]
• Steve Miles – [email protected]

School Board Trustee – English Public (Upper Grand District School Board)

• Bernie Katsch – [email protected]

School Board Trustee – English Separate (Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board)

• Paula Dametto-Giovannozzi – [email protected]

School Board Trustee – Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (French Public)

• Rachael Golem – [email protected]
• Eric Lapointe – [email protected]

School Board Trustee – French Separate (Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir)

• Genevieve Grenier 

More information: Township of Grand Valley election site

Register to vote: registertovoteon.ca