Nipissing Township Council · 2026

Chris
Johnston

Candidate for Township Council

Farmer. Neighbour. Parent. 15+ years in technology leadership. I'm running because our township deserves a council that asks hard questions, embraces modern thinking, and actually stays to finish the work.

My Priorities Get Involved
JH Farms · Nipissing Township Municipal Election · October 2026
JH Farms — replace with your photo

About Chris

Rooted Here.
Invested in What's Next.

🌾 JH Farms  jhfarms.ca

My wife's family has farmed this land for generations — deep roots in Trout Creek and Nipissing Township that go back long before either of us were born. I came here in 2018, but I didn't arrive as a stranger. I grew up in an adjacent township, and these lakes, roads, and communities have always felt like home.

Together we run JH Farms — 300 acres we took on, a farmhouse we rebuilt from the foundation up, and a small business we're proud of. We recently welcomed our son. We're not going anywhere.

By day I work as Director of Marketing Operations at ETS Canada, remotely. For over 15 years I've led technology strategy, managed complex software implementations, and been responsible for large budgets. I know exactly what a failed $300,000 software project looks like — and exactly how to prevent one.

15+Years in tech &
marketing leadership
BACommunications,
Wilfrid Laurier
300Acres at
JH Farms
JH Farms fields
JH Farms · Nipissing Township
JH Farms products
Farm Fresh · Community Proud
The farm
Add your own photos here

Professional Background

The Skills Gap on Council
Is Real. I Can Fill It.

For over 15 years I've led technology strategy, evaluated and implemented enterprise software, managed teams, and been accountable for results at companies across Canada — all while running a farm in Nipissing Township.

🏢

Director of Marketing Operations

ETS Canada · Oct 2024–Present

Currently leading marketing operations strategy and technology at one of Canada's leading educational testing organizations — remotely from Nipissing Township.

⚙️

Senior Manager, Marketing Technology

Wave HQ · Jun 2023–Oct 2024

Led a team of 3 managing the full technology stack. Evaluated, selected, purchased and implemented major enterprise platforms including Braze and Segment.io. Owned the budget, managed vendors, and interfaced across 10+ departments.

📊

Marketing Consultant

Johnston Marketing · Oct 2018–Present

7+ years advising businesses on technology selection, procurement, and implementation — from Nipissing Township. The exact skills our council has been missing when approving six-figure software contracts.

💡

What This Means for Nipissing Township

When our township was evaluating that $300,000 ERP system, someone with my background would have asked: What's the implementation plan? Who's accountable for milestones? What are the exit criteria if this fails? What did the vendor's references say? These aren't complicated questions — but you have to know enough to ask them. I do.

Education

Educated to Lead.
Trained to Communicate.

🎓

BA, Communications

Wilfrid Laurier University · 2006–2009

Interdisciplinary program drawing on political science, sociology, business and psychology, with a focus on marketing. Student Union President Nominee; Laurier's Next Top Volunteer 2009; BDO Dunwoody New Venture Competition Semi-Finalist.

📜

Digital Marketing Management Certificate

University of Toronto · 2013

Specialist-level training in digital marketing strategy, search engine marketing, social media, and measurable ROI — the foundation of a career in marketing technology leadership.

🎨

Digital Graphic Design Certificate

Humber College · 2011–2014

Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Design fundamentals, typography, and preparation for print and digital media — skills directly applicable to better council communications.

📚

Conestoga College

Continuing Studies

Additional professional development rounding out a broad educational foundation across communications, design, business and technology.

Core Competencies

Technology Strategy Software Procurement Budget Management Team Leadership Communications Vendor Management Cross-Functional Delivery Digital Marketing Graphic Design Data & Analytics Farming & Rural Business

What People Say

The Track Record
Speaks for Itself

Colleagues and clients who've worked directly with Chris over his 15+ year career in technology and marketing leadership.

"Chris is a human Swiss Army knife when it comes to marketing technology. He possesses deep knowledge of martech, immense problem-solving skills, and a genuine enthusiasm for coaching. His innovative approach and strategic vision were crucial to the success of our initiatives."
Andrew Farenech Marketing Operations & Web Dev, Wave HQ · Reported to Chris directly
"Chris is one of the best team leaders I've had the pleasure of working with. He pays attention to detail while keeping an eye on the bigger picture. His leadership style is one of generosity and trust — he empowers his team with the autonomy to take action while providing guidance when needed."
Gina Alvarez Program & Operations Manager · Reported to Chris directly
"Chris is an amazing, down-to-earth and wickedly smart consultant, project manager and human being. He helped me solve a major problem with finesse, grace and expertise. I cannot recommend him enough."
Chris Johansen Digital Specialist & Podcast Producer · Client
"I have had the pleasure of knowing Chris for almost 7 years. In that time we have worked together on many different projects ranging from university work to entrepreneurial initiatives. I have found him to be one of the most driven, capable and collaborative people I know."
Shaun Lai Programme Manager, AI & Cloud · Microsoft Public Sector

Recommendations sourced from Chris Johnston's LinkedIn profile.

My son will grow up in this township. That's not an abstract commitment — it's personal. I want to help build the kind of place he'll be proud to call home for decades to come.
— Chris Johnston, Candidate for Nipissing Township Council

What I'm Running On

Three Clear Priorities

Every vote I cast on Council will be guided by these commitments — and I'll explain my reasoning publicly, every time.

💰

Fiscal Responsibility

Taxpayer money is trust. I'll ask hard questions before any major expenditure, push for competitive procurement, and ensure Council understands what it's approving. No more $300,000 software projects abandoned without a single hard question at the table.

🏊

Community Services & Recreation

Our community centre, parks, beaches, and programs are the connective tissue of Nipissing life. I'll work to sustain and thoughtfully invest in these facilities — so residents of every age have places to gather, play, and belong.

📡

Communication & Technology

Residents shouldn't have to attend a council meeting to know what their government is doing. I'll push for regular plain-language updates, a modern digital presence, and real engagement with the community — not just at election time.

A Pattern Worth Discussing

Three Terms.
Three Mayors. Constant Turnover.

This isn't a recent problem — it's a pattern spanning three consecutive council terms. Nipissing Township has repeatedly seen its mayor's seat change hands mid-term by appointment, councillors depart, and vacancies filled by committee rather than voters. The institutional knowledge needed to see projects through has walked out the door again and again. Good ideas stall, decisions lack follow-through, and residents lose their democratic connection to the people governing them.

2014–2018 Term
The Haufe Term
1+
mid-term departures
  • Mayor Pat Haufe resigned mid-term after an ALS diagnosis
  • Cllr. Tom Piper appointed Mayor by council — not by voters
  • New councillor Tom Butler appointed to fill the vacancy
  • Entire 2014 council had been acclaimed — no competitive election held
2018–2022 Term
The COVID Term
2+
mid-term departures
  • Cllr. Linda Andersen departed mid-term — another vacancy to fill
  • CAO-Clerk resigned February 16, 2021 — critical admin role gone mid-term
  • Ontario Ombudsman investigated multiple closed meetings in 2021
  • Council found to have violated the Municipal Act on July 13, 2021
  • Staff instability compounded ongoing council churn
2022–2026 Term · Current
This Term
6+
mid-term departures
  • Cllrs. Bell, Hughes & Marchant all departed mid-term
  • Cllr. Tom Butler resigned 2023 — seat filled by a literal name draw after council deadlocked
  • Mayor Piper resigned Nov. 2024 — third consecutive term a mayor leaves early
  • Cllr. Lisa Chalapenko elected by council Dec. 2024 — then also resigned mid-term
  • Cllr. James Scott lost the council vote for his seat — council voted to return him anyway
  • Township now has a published vacancy appointment procedure — it's become routine

The 2022–2026 Council — Where Are They Now?

As certified August 19, 2022 · Based on public township records

Thomas Piper
Resigned — Mayor
Joseph Bell
Departed
Tom Butler
Resigned 2023 → name draw
Shawn Hughes
Departed
Tom Marchant
Departed
Lisa Chalapenko
Appointed Dec 2024 → resigned
Shelly Foote
Serving — Dep. Mayor
Stephen Kirkey
Serving (re-elected 2022)
James Scott
Lost vote → council returned him
Dave Yemm
Serving — Mayor
Vacant / TBD
To be filled again
Departed mid-term (6)
Elected & still serving (3)
Irregular / vacant (2)

When Butler resigned in 2023, multiple residents applied for the vacant seat. Council deadlocked and could not reach a majority decision — so the position was filled by a literal name draw. Lisa Chalapenko was then elected by council in December 2024 to fill the seat vacated by Mayor Piper's departure, before also resigning mid-term.

🎲

Name Draws. Reversed Votes. Resignations After Six Weeks. This Is How Our Council Has Operated.

In this term alone, Nipissing Township council has: filled a seat by name draw after deadlocking on who to appoint; appointed a councillor who then resigned mid-term; and when Councillor Scott lost the council vote for his seat, voted to return him anyway. Each event reveals a council struggling to manage its own continuity — let alone the township's long-term priorities.

Why Consistency Is the Foundation of Good Governance

Running a township isn't like chairing a one-time committee. It requires understanding multi-year capital plans, the history behind every budget line, relationships with provincial partners, ongoing legal matters, and the context behind hundreds of past decisions. When councillors leave mid-term, all of that walks out with them. This is how a $300,000 software implementation gets abandoned without anyone at the table asking why.

📋 Multi-Year Projects Stall

Capital projects, grant applications, and infrastructure plans span multiple years. Every new councillor restarts the learning curve — delaying decisions and increasing the risk of costly mistakes.

🤝 Relationships Take Time

Effective municipal governance depends on relationships with provincial ministries, neighbouring councils, and community organizations. These can't be rebuilt overnight every time someone leaves.

🗳️ Appointments Aren't Votes

When a seat is filled by appointment rather than election, residents lose their voice. The person at the table was chosen by four colleagues, not by the community.

⚡ Momentum Is Everything

Progress on broadband, recreation facilities, and communication improvements requires sustained attention over years. Churn kills momentum. Consistency gets things done.

🌾

My Commitment: Four Years, Full Stop

Farming teaches you that real results don't come from showing up when it's convenient — they come from showing up every day, through every season. My family is here. Our farm is here. Our future is here. I will serve the full term, attend every meeting I can, prepare properly for every vote, and still be here long after the 2026 election is over.

The Real Issues

What Needs to Change

These aren't abstract positions. They're patterns I've observed in our township — and problems I'm committed to fixing.

01
⚠ Accountability

A $300,000 Software Failure — Without a Single Hard Question

Our township abandoned a $300,000 ERP system after three years of failed implementation, then approved a $50,000 replacement with little meaningful debate. A council with continuity and technical literacy would have caught this far earlier. I will ask those questions — every time.

02
Stability

Three Terms of Turnover — It's Time for Consistency

For three consecutive terms, our mayor's seat has changed hands mid-term. Councillors come and go. Institutional knowledge evaporates. Projects stall. It's time to elect people who are committed to staying — and to doing the work needed to make things actually happen.

03
Governance

Not Enough Questions at the Council Table

Good governance requires healthy, informed debate. When major spending decisions pass without discussion, that's not consensus — it's a gap in oversight. I'll bring a culture of respectful, evidence-based questioning to every meeting I attend.

04
Skills & Capacity

Council Needs Broader Skills for a Modern Municipality

Technology, finance, and communications are core to running a township in 2026. A council that doesn't understand these areas can't properly evaluate the decisions in front of it. I bring direct, practical experience in all three.

05
Communication

Residents Are Left in the Dark

The gap between what happens at the council table and what residents actually know is too wide. I'll advocate for consistent newsletters, active social media, and a website that genuinely reflects what's happening in our township.

06
Connectivity

Reliable Broadband for Rural Residents

High-speed internet affects property values, business viability, and quality of life. I'll actively pursue provincial and federal partnerships to close the connectivity gap in Nipissing Township.

Join the Campaign

Let's Build Something Together

Every conversation, every lawn sign, and every vote matters in a small township.

Volunteer

Help knock on doors, deliver flyers, and have real conversations with your neighbours. Local voices carry more weight than any advertisement.

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Lawn Sign

Show your street you're ready for a more engaged, accountable council. Signs are available — we'll deliver anywhere in the township.

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Stay Informed

Township Updates in Your Inbox

Every two weeks — the latest Nipissing Township news and a summary of the most recent council meeting.

Reach Out

Let's Talk

Have a concern about your township? Want to share what matters most to your family? I want to hear from you — before the election and long after it.

Email[email protected]
Webchriswjohnston.ca
Farmjhfarms.ca
WhereNipissing Township, Ontario