Five questions with Bianca Timmerman, candidate for Brockville council in the 2026 municipal election

Editor’s note: To help voters to be better informed, Brockvilleist will be asking the same five questions of all council candidates in advance of the municipal election, which will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Questions were sent to all candidates on Sept. 4, 2026. We will publish their responses as we receive them. Below are the responses from candidate Bianca Timmerman. You can view a full roundup of all our Brockville municipal coverage here.

1. Tell us a little bit about your professional background, including any prior municipal or other political participation, as well as about you, personally. What made you want to run for council?

Brockville has been home to me since I was a teenager. I attended Thousand Islands Secondary School, went on to study music theatre at St. Lawrence College, worked my first job here, participated in community theatre and the Multicultural Festival and eventually became a small business owner.

Professionally, I own and operate Queen Bee’s Café, a mobile café serving Brockville and the surrounding region. Running a small business has taught me a great deal about budgeting, staffing, planning, problem-solving and how quickly unexpected challenges can affect a business and the people who depend on it.

Before becoming a business owner, much of my early advocacy work focused on children and youth. For nearly a decade, I was involved in work connected to the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth and other initiatives involving young people in care, Indigenous youth, Black youth, 2SLGBTQ+ youth and youth with disabilities. I participated in conversations around legislation, policy, investigations, inquests and systemic issues affecting young people across Ontario.

Locally, I have also been involved in community advocacy for many years, including helping found Brockville Pride as a teenager and participating in Brockville’s Truth and Reconciliation work.

I decided to run because I care deeply about the people who live here and about what Brockville will look like for the next generation. I want residents who may not traditionally feel they have a seat at the table to know their experiences matter. Council cannot solve every problem on its own, but it can bring people together, establish priorities and make practical decisions that improve everyday life.

2. How would you describe your personal political ideology and/or affiliation?

I don’t approach municipal politics through a strong partisan lens. Municipal government is very different from provincial or federal politics, and I believe good local government requires councillors to work with people who may have very different political beliefs.

My approach is centred around compassion, community and practical action. I believe government should be financially responsible while also recognizing that investing in people, infrastructure and preventative services can save money and strengthen a community over the long term.

I try to approach decisions by asking whether something is practical, financially sustainable and likely to meaningfully improve life for the people who live here.

3. What are the three most common issues voters bring up to you as you campaign?

The issues I hear about most consistently are affordability, homelessness and addiction and infrastructure and accessibility.

People are worried about the rising cost of rent, groceries and everyday necessities. Many residents are working hard and still finding it difficult to keep up.

Homelessness, mental health and addiction are also raised frequently. Residents want compassionate solutions, but they also want solutions that are effective and sustainable rather than repeatedly responding to crises without addressing the underlying causes.

The third issue is the condition and accessibility of infrastructure, particularly roads and sidewalks. I recently spent time travelling through Brockville using a mobility device with a local accessibility advocate. It gave me a much clearer understanding of how curb cuts, sidewalk conditions and snow removal can determine whether someone can independently participate in their community.

4. What three issues are most pressing/important to address locally in your opinion?

Affordability and housing are at the top of my list. I do not want people to be priced out of the community they call home. While municipalities do not control every factor affecting housing costs, council can encourage responsible development, support a range of housing options and advocate strongly to other levels of government.

Second is developing a long-term, coordinated approach to homelessness, mental health, addiction and poverty. No single organization or level of government can solve these issues alone. Sometimes progress does not require creating another expensive program; it requires getting the right organizations, service providers, governments and community members around the same table and coordinating the resources we already have.

Third is building a city that remains accessible, vibrant and sustainable for future generations. That includes maintaining our roads and sidewalks, improving accessibility, supporting small businesses, investing in youth and protecting the community spaces and cultural assets that make Brockville special.

5. What do you feel sets you apart from other candidates?

Every candidate brings different experiences to the table, and I think that diversity of experience is valuable.

What I bring is a combination of grassroots advocacy, small-business experience and years of working alongside people whose voices are not always represented in decision-making.

I have been in rooms discussing policy and legislation, but I have also spent years working directly with people in the community. I understand what it means to make payroll, balance a budget and deal with the unexpected realities of running a small business.

Most importantly, I am comfortable saying that I do not have every answer. My experience can only take me so far. Good representation requires listening to residents, learning from people with lived experience and being willing to change your approach when better information is available.

If elected, I want my seat at the council table to be another way for Brockville residents to have their voices heard. I see the role of councillor not simply as speaking for people, but as creating opportunities for people to speak for themselves and ensuring those voices are part of the decisions we make.