Vote Chris Culhane

About Chris

A Brockville Life: Family, Work and Community

My Roots in Brockville

For more than 80 years, the Culhane family has called Brockville home. It is a place where family, hard work and community have always been important—and those values have shaped who I am today.

I was born and raised in Brockville, as was my wife, Gail. We have been married for more than 40 years, and together we have built our family and our lives right here in the community we love. Gail worked in retail management in Brockville both uptown and downtown encompassing many years.

I grew up in a family that understood the meaning of hard work. My father, Jack, was a diesel mechanic with Direct Winters, while my mother, Loretta, was the head nurse on the second floor at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital.

I have two brothers and two sisters, who all grew up in the community and contributed to Brockville in their own way. My brother John is a retired VIA Rail train engineer. My brother Danny is a retired Brockville firefighter. My sister Cathy is a retired respiratory technologist from Kingston, and my sister Shirley is retired after working in retail management at the Thousand Islands Mall.

Family Comes First

Family has always been at the centre of my life. Gail and I have two children (Tammie and Stephanie) and three grandchildren (Meghan, Danica, and Marisa). Watching our family grow has been one of the greatest joys of our lives.

A Career Built on Hard Work

My education and career have also been rooted in hands-on work. I graduated from Thousand Islands Secondary School and later attended college in Sault Ste. Marie, where I graduated as a Heavy Equipment Diesel Mechanic.

I began working as a marine mechanic at St. Lawrence Marina in Brockville during the summers while working at Black & Decker during the winters. Those early jobs taught me the value of showing up, working hard and solving problems.

For more than 25 years, I have worked at Brockville Honda. Over that time, I have worked as a car, ATV, power equipment and marine mechanic, as well as a parts specialist.

My career has given me the opportunity to work with all kinds of people and solve all kinds of problems. More importantly, it has taught me that there is usually a practical solution if you take the time to listen, understand the problem and do the job right.

My Connection to the Community

That is the same approach I bring to life and to my community.

I don’t come from a political background, and I don’t have a long list of fancy degrees or political titles. What I do have is more than 50 years of work and life experience, a deep connection to Brockville, and a genuine belief in the people who live here.

This is the real me—my family, my work, my roots and my connection to Brockville. I hope that by sharing my story, you get to know the person behind the name and face a little better.

- Why I'm Running -

I'm someone who genuinely loves Brockville and the people who call this community home. Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to become more involved in our community. I took part in Tall Ships as a logistics coordinator, where I really enjoyed working alongside the committee members, volunteers, and everyone who helped make the event a success. Last year, I also had the opportunity to help with the Santa Claus Parade, and once again found myself really enjoying the experience of working with people throughout our community.

Those experiences made me start thinking more seriously about getting involved in municipal politics. With the next election approaching, I asked myself: why couldn't I be a great councillor for the people of Brockville?

I hear people talking about wanting change, and I believe there is an opportunity to listen to those concerns and bring a fresh perspective to council. I want to be someone who listens to residents, understands what they're going through, and makes sure their voices are heard. For me, running for council isn't just about holding a position — it's about serving the community I love, working with people, and making sure residents feel respected, supported, and understood. I believe Brockville has a lot of potential, and I want to be part of helping our city move forward.

- My Approach -

I would describe myself as a practical, independent-minded person. I believe in listening to people, looking at the facts, and finding sensible, cost-effective solutions. My approach to politics isn't about party politics or ideology — at the municipal level, I believe the focus should be on the needs of our community and providing good value for taxpayers.

I'm willing to listen to different points of view and work with anyone when it means achieving the best result for Brockville. My work experience has taught me the importance of reliability, hard work, problem-solving, and, most importantly, getting things done properly.

As someone who cares deeply about Brockville and its future, I want to see our city remain a safe, affordable, and welcoming place to live. I believe council needs to be accountable, make responsible financial decisions, plan for the long term, and address important issues such as affordable housing, homelessness, infrastructure, and responsible growth.

- The Issues I'm Hearing About -

The three issues I hear most often from residents are homelessness, affordable housing, and taxes. I also believe infrastructure needs to be a major priority for Brockville.

Homelessness is not just a Brockville problem — it's an issue across Ontario. We need to work with all levels of government to develop better programs that help people who are struggling. People need a safe place to stay and access to the supports they need so they can work toward permanent housing and a more stable future.

That leads directly into affordable housing. We need to work with city staff and all levels of government to find practical solutions that will increase the availability of affordable housing in Brockville. I do have some ideas on this subject that I would bring forward if elected.

Infrastructure also needs to be a priority. We have infrastructure that needs attention, including roads, parks, and facilities such as the gazebo at Hardy Park. I believe we need to take a serious look at where our money is going. For the next two years, I would be in favour of putting new projects on hold unless they are truly necessary, so we can concentrate on maintaining and repairing what we already have.

Taxes are another major concern for people in Brockville. I believe residents deserve responsible government and affordable property taxes. I don't believe the answer is simply to cut services — we need our roads maintained, our infrastructure looked after, and our police and fire services properly supported. Before asking taxpayers for more money, council needs to make sure every tax dollar is being spent wisely. I would support a thorough review of city spending to identify efficiencies, unnecessary costs, and opportunities for outside funding before increasing the burden on taxpayers. At the same time, Brockville needs to grow its tax base through responsible development, affordable housing, downtown investment, and attracting new businesses. A growing tax base can help support city services without simply increasing the tax rate.

I'm not running to be a politician. I'm running to be a voice for the people of Brockville. What I bring to the table is a lifelong connection to this city and hands-on experience solving problems throughout my career — not just talking about them. I believe in listening, finding practical solutions, and getting things done properly for the people of Brockville.

I do not have any fancy degrees, and I do not belong to any special organizations. What I do have is a lifetime of experience living and working in Brockville. I have spent my career as a mechanic, owned and operated a business downtown, and built my life right here in our community.

Through my work and life experiences, I have learned the value of hard work, common sense, accountability, and getting things done right the first time. I believe those qualities are important on City Council, and I am asking for your support.

One of the reasons that I decided to run is because of my experience serving on the Tall Ships Committee this past year. I truly enjoyed working alongside committee members, city staff, volunteers, and sponsors to help deliver a successful event that showcased Brockville to visitors from across the region. It showed me what can be accomplished when people work together toward a common goal.

If elected, I believe there are several important issues that must be addressed. Homelessness in Brockville needs to be a priority. We need to work with all levels of government to develop practical solutions that help people access the support they need and find stable, long-term housing.

Affordable housing is also a major concern. Increasing the supply of affordable housing will help strengthen our community and provide more opportunities for residents to stay and thrive in Brockville.

Finally, responsible asset management will be one of the key challenges facing Council in the coming term. I will work hard to ensure taxpayers’ dollars are spent wisely and that residents receive the best value for their money.

I am committed to listening, working hard, and putting the interests of Brockville residents first.

I would be honoured to earn your support.

Chris Culhane

Candidate for Brockville City Council