Hi, Niagara Falls. Yes, I’m that candidate.
I’m going to start my campaign by saying something that may not be the most popular political strategy:
"I wasn’t born and raised in Niagara Falls."
There. I said it.
I was born in Chatham-Kent, spent part of my post-secondary years in Ottawa, and eventually found my way to Niagara Falls more than 20 years ago.
And honestly? I think that matters.
Because coming from somewhere else gave me a perspective that I might not have developed if Niagara Falls had always been the only place I knew.
I learned that every community has its own character, challenges and quirks. I learned to ask why things are done a certain way instead of simply accepting that “that’s how we’ve always done it.”
And after more than two decades here, I’ve also learned something equally important:
Niagara Falls is home.
I’ve built friendships, professional relationships and community connections here. I’ve volunteered. I’ve helped organize and promote community events. I’ve worked with nonprofits, businesses, service organizations, sponsors and residents. I’ve spent countless hours helping raise money for local causes and promoting the people and organizations that make this city better.
I haven’t just lived here.
I’ve invested in here.
And that’s the kind of City Councillor I want to be.
Not someone who believes being elected means suddenly becoming the smartest person in the room.
Not someone who votes for something because it makes for a great photo, a good headline or an easy campaign promise.
And definitely not someone who thinks residents should be grateful simply because someone in City Hall has decided what’s best for them.
I believe municipal government should be about good policy, responsible spending, transparency, thoughtful planning and actually listening to the people who live here.
That means asking hard questions.
It means looking at the long-term consequences instead of chasing the next shiny object.
It means protecting the things that make Niagara Falls special while still allowing our city to grow.
It means supporting responsible economic development without automatically assuming every development is good development.
It means protecting our parks, neighbourhoods and public spaces.
It means taking infrastructure seriously.
It means making decisions based on evidence, not ego.
And it means remembering that behind every line item in a municipal budget is a real person (taxpayer) paying for it.
I’m not going to pretend I have every answer.
But I know how to ask the right questions.
I know how to research an issue, understand the numbers, communicate complicated information in plain English and — perhaps most importantly — listen to people who disagree with me.
Because democracy gets a whole lot better when we stop treating disagreement like a personal attack.
I’m running because I believe Niagara Falls can be ambitious and responsible.
We can grow without losing our identity.
We can attract investment without giving away the farm.
We can support tourism while remembering that this is also a city where people actually live.
We can make decisions for today without creating problems for the people who will live here 10, 20 or 30 years from now.
And yes, I fully intend to bring a little humour to City Hall, too.
Because municipal politics can be serious without being miserable.
You should be able to understand what your Councillor is doing, why they are doing it and how your tax dollars are being spent, without needing a decoder ring and three hours to read a council agenda.
So no, I wasn’t born here.
I chose Niagara Falls.
And after more than 20 years, I’m choosing it again.
I’m running for City Council because I believe this city deserves representatives who are curious, informed, accountable, approachable and willing to do the work.
I’m not running to be the loudest voice in the room.
I’m running to be one of the voices making sure the room is asking the right questions.
Niagara Falls is home.
Let’s be thoughtful about where we take it next.
Tawnya Hartford
I’m going to start my campaign by saying something that may not be the most popular political strategy:
"I wasn’t born and raised in Niagara Falls."
There. I said it.
I was born in Chatham-Kent, spent part of my post-secondary years in Ottawa, and eventually found my way to Niagara Falls more than 20 years ago.
And honestly? I think that matters.
Because coming from somewhere else gave me a perspective that I might not have developed if Niagara Falls had always been the only place I knew.
I learned that every community has its own character, challenges and quirks. I learned to ask why things are done a certain way instead of simply accepting that “that’s how we’ve always done it.”
And after more than two decades here, I’ve also learned something equally important:
Niagara Falls is home.
I’ve built friendships, professional relationships and community connections here. I’ve volunteered. I’ve helped organize and promote community events. I’ve worked with nonprofits, businesses, service organizations, sponsors and residents. I’ve spent countless hours helping raise money for local causes and promoting the people and organizations that make this city better.
I haven’t just lived here.
I’ve invested in here.
And that’s the kind of City Councillor I want to be.
Not someone who believes being elected means suddenly becoming the smartest person in the room.
Not someone who votes for something because it makes for a great photo, a good headline or an easy campaign promise.
And definitely not someone who thinks residents should be grateful simply because someone in City Hall has decided what’s best for them.
I believe municipal government should be about good policy, responsible spending, transparency, thoughtful planning and actually listening to the people who live here.
That means asking hard questions.
It means looking at the long-term consequences instead of chasing the next shiny object.
It means protecting the things that make Niagara Falls special while still allowing our city to grow.
It means supporting responsible economic development without automatically assuming every development is good development.
It means protecting our parks, neighbourhoods and public spaces.
It means taking infrastructure seriously.
It means making decisions based on evidence, not ego.
And it means remembering that behind every line item in a municipal budget is a real person (taxpayer) paying for it.
I’m not going to pretend I have every answer.
But I know how to ask the right questions.
I know how to research an issue, understand the numbers, communicate complicated information in plain English and — perhaps most importantly — listen to people who disagree with me.
Because democracy gets a whole lot better when we stop treating disagreement like a personal attack.
I’m running because I believe Niagara Falls can be ambitious and responsible.
We can grow without losing our identity.
We can attract investment without giving away the farm.
We can support tourism while remembering that this is also a city where people actually live.
We can make decisions for today without creating problems for the people who will live here 10, 20 or 30 years from now.
And yes, I fully intend to bring a little humour to City Hall, too.
Because municipal politics can be serious without being miserable.
You should be able to understand what your Councillor is doing, why they are doing it and how your tax dollars are being spent, without needing a decoder ring and three hours to read a council agenda.
So no, I wasn’t born here.
I chose Niagara Falls.
And after more than 20 years, I’m choosing it again.
I’m running for City Council because I believe this city deserves representatives who are curious, informed, accountable, approachable and willing to do the work.
I’m not running to be the loudest voice in the room.
I’m running to be one of the voices making sure the room is asking the right questions.
Niagara Falls is home.
Let’s be thoughtful about where we take it next.
Tawnya Hartford
Let’s be blunt –well, at least I am going to be so hold on to your hats!
We keep saying we want Niagara Falls to be a world-class tourism destination.
Then we give visitors a bill that makes them feel like they’ve been taken for a ride before they’ve even seen the Falls.
Let’s be clear: there is a legitimate Municipal Accommodation Tax. It is currently 4% on room rates and it is supposed to be disclosed of which these funds go to Niagara Falls Tourism and are spent to actually promote tourism for the city. That’s not the issue.
The issue is the growing collection of additional fees, resort fees, service charges and other surprise add-ons that some businesses put on bills—and the stories from visitors who say they were told these charges were “destination taxes” or “fireworks fees” otherwise mandatory when they weren't.
That is a problem.
And when the City points to businesses and says, essentially, “Well, they set their own prices,” I have to ask:
At what point does protecting Niagara Falls’ reputation become somebody’s responsibility?
Niagara Falls Tourism itself acknowledges that businesses can impose discretionary fees, but says they must be disclosed in advance and must not be presented as a tax.
If businesses are misrepresenting charges to visitors, I want to know what mechanisms are being used to identify it, investigate complaints and hold businesses accountable.
Because here’s the bigger issue:
We don't just have a pricing problem. We have a tourism strategy problem.
Look at what happens when major events bring people into the region.
The eclipse should have been an enormous opportunity to turn visitors into repeat visitors. Even putting aside the weather issues (of which we had no control), it was an absolute failure.
And with FIFA World Cup activity bringing international attention and visitors to Toronto, we had another massive opportunity sitting practically in our backyard…and again it underperformed. FIFA guests came to Niagara Falls for daily trips and returned to Toronto or areas where costs were lower for lodging, entertainment and food.
Toronto hosts conferences and conventions constantly. Thousands of international visitors come here for business, and many of them want to see Niagara Falls.
So why aren't we doing everything possible to turn those visitors into overnight stays, second nights, restaurant visits, attractions, shopping trips and return visits?
Instead, if someone spends one day in Niagara Falls, feels like they've been price-gouged, sees a bill full of mysterious fees and leaves thinking “Well, I saw the Falls…”
we've lost.
The hotel loses a second night.
The restaurant loses another meal.
The attraction loses another ticket.
The employee loses another shift.
The small business loses another sale.
And the residents lose the economic benefits that tourism is supposed to generate.
Tourism shouldn't be about “How much can we get from this visitor today?”
It should be:
“How do we make this visitor want to stay another night—and come back next year?”
That requires leadership.
It requires businesses to understand that short-term price gouging can destroy long-term customer loyalty.
And it requires City Hall to stop shrugging its shoulders, passing the blame to the Province and start asking harder questions about consumer protection, enforcement, transparency and the overall visitor experience.
Niagara Falls doesn't need to squeeze every possible dollar out of a visitor.
We need to give them a reason to spend another dollar—and then come back and spend another hundred.
Because the goal shouldn't be to have visitors say:
“Wow, what a beautiful waterfall.”
followed by:
“Holy crap, look at this bill.”
***We can and should do better!***
Note: Image is AI - thoughts and message are brain-powered by this human running for City Council - Niagara Falls 2026.
We keep saying we want Niagara Falls to be a world-class tourism destination.
Then we give visitors a bill that makes them feel like they’ve been taken for a ride before they’ve even seen the Falls.
Let’s be clear: there is a legitimate Municipal Accommodation Tax. It is currently 4% on room rates and it is supposed to be disclosed of which these funds go to Niagara Falls Tourism and are spent to actually promote tourism for the city. That’s not the issue.
The issue is the growing collection of additional fees, resort fees, service charges and other surprise add-ons that some businesses put on bills—and the stories from visitors who say they were told these charges were “destination taxes” or “fireworks fees” otherwise mandatory when they weren't.
That is a problem.
And when the City points to businesses and says, essentially, “Well, they set their own prices,” I have to ask:
At what point does protecting Niagara Falls’ reputation become somebody’s responsibility?
Niagara Falls Tourism itself acknowledges that businesses can impose discretionary fees, but says they must be disclosed in advance and must not be presented as a tax.
If businesses are misrepresenting charges to visitors, I want to know what mechanisms are being used to identify it, investigate complaints and hold businesses accountable.
Because here’s the bigger issue:
We don't just have a pricing problem. We have a tourism strategy problem.
Look at what happens when major events bring people into the region.
The eclipse should have been an enormous opportunity to turn visitors into repeat visitors. Even putting aside the weather issues (of which we had no control), it was an absolute failure.
And with FIFA World Cup activity bringing international attention and visitors to Toronto, we had another massive opportunity sitting practically in our backyard…and again it underperformed. FIFA guests came to Niagara Falls for daily trips and returned to Toronto or areas where costs were lower for lodging, entertainment and food.
Toronto hosts conferences and conventions constantly. Thousands of international visitors come here for business, and many of them want to see Niagara Falls.
So why aren't we doing everything possible to turn those visitors into overnight stays, second nights, restaurant visits, attractions, shopping trips and return visits?
Instead, if someone spends one day in Niagara Falls, feels like they've been price-gouged, sees a bill full of mysterious fees and leaves thinking “Well, I saw the Falls…”
we've lost.
The hotel loses a second night.
The restaurant loses another meal.
The attraction loses another ticket.
The employee loses another shift.
The small business loses another sale.
And the residents lose the economic benefits that tourism is supposed to generate.
Tourism shouldn't be about “How much can we get from this visitor today?”
It should be:
“How do we make this visitor want to stay another night—and come back next year?”
That requires leadership.
It requires businesses to understand that short-term price gouging can destroy long-term customer loyalty.
And it requires City Hall to stop shrugging its shoulders, passing the blame to the Province and start asking harder questions about consumer protection, enforcement, transparency and the overall visitor experience.
Niagara Falls doesn't need to squeeze every possible dollar out of a visitor.
We need to give them a reason to spend another dollar—and then come back and spend another hundred.
Because the goal shouldn't be to have visitors say:
“Wow, what a beautiful waterfall.”
followed by:
“Holy crap, look at this bill.”
***We can and should do better!***
Note: Image is AI - thoughts and message are brain-powered by this human running for City Council - Niagara Falls 2026.
It’s sad to see the deterioration of parts of our city, but pointing fingers or just ignoring the problems won’t fix it. We need to roll up our sleeves, listen to residents, work together, and focus on practical solutions. What do you think we can do to start making Niagara Falls better?
There’s nothing quite like when the bottom of the compost bag gives out and there’s a disgusting mess all over the floor.
For a second, you just stand there staring at it. Then you assess the situation, figure out what happened, grab what you need, and start cleaning it up.
But here’s the key thing…if someone else is standing in the room, they might notice something you didn’t. Maybe they saw the bag leaking earlier? Maybe they have a better idea for cleaning it? Different outside perspectives often lead to better solutions.
That’s exactly how I think we should approach the current mess in our city - the city of Niagara Falls.
No one person has all the answers. Good leadership means listening to residents, businesses, community organizations, city staff, and people with completely different experiences. The best decisions come from bringing perspectives together and certainly not by shutting them out.
My approach would be simple: see the mess, listen to the people affected by it, identify what’s broken, prioritize the cleanup, and create better systems so we stop repeating the same problems.
Leadership isn’t pretending there’s no mess.
It’s having the humility to ask others for input, the courage to tackle difficult problems, and the determination to leave the place better than you found it.
#NiagaraFallsElections #CleanupTheMess #MunicipalPolitics #CommunityVoice #Leadership #Vote
For a second, you just stand there staring at it. Then you assess the situation, figure out what happened, grab what you need, and start cleaning it up.
But here’s the key thing…if someone else is standing in the room, they might notice something you didn’t. Maybe they saw the bag leaking earlier? Maybe they have a better idea for cleaning it? Different outside perspectives often lead to better solutions.
That’s exactly how I think we should approach the current mess in our city - the city of Niagara Falls.
No one person has all the answers. Good leadership means listening to residents, businesses, community organizations, city staff, and people with completely different experiences. The best decisions come from bringing perspectives together and certainly not by shutting them out.
My approach would be simple: see the mess, listen to the people affected by it, identify what’s broken, prioritize the cleanup, and create better systems so we stop repeating the same problems.
Leadership isn’t pretending there’s no mess.
It’s having the humility to ask others for input, the courage to tackle difficult problems, and the determination to leave the place better than you found it.
#NiagaraFallsElections #CleanupTheMess #MunicipalPolitics #CommunityVoice #Leadership #Vote
The political flurry today (especially in Niagara Falls this morning) has been something else—with candidates switching filings, new people filing to run and the deadline now just HOURS away: Friday, August 21 at 2 p.m.!**
So… I did the thing (again!). **I officially filed to run for Niagara Falls City Council in 2026.** 🗳️
And yes, the filing photo had to happen. Apparently, it’s a rite of passage. 😂
For the record: **I HATE having my picture taken.** But some things must be done for democracy. 😉
This run is going to be different than it was in 2022.
I’m older (47), more mature, more experienced, and I’ve spent more than 22 years building relationships and contributing to this community. I know Niagara Falls, I know community, and I know how much I want to make it better for all.
I cannot wait to get started.
**Let’s do this.** 💙💛
Tawnya Hartford
Hartford 4 NF City Council
So… I did the thing (again!). **I officially filed to run for Niagara Falls City Council in 2026.** 🗳️
And yes, the filing photo had to happen. Apparently, it’s a rite of passage. 😂
For the record: **I HATE having my picture taken.** But some things must be done for democracy. 😉
This run is going to be different than it was in 2022.
I’m older (47), more mature, more experienced, and I’ve spent more than 22 years building relationships and contributing to this community. I know Niagara Falls, I know community, and I know how much I want to make it better for all.
I cannot wait to get started.
**Let’s do this.** 💙💛
Tawnya Hartford
Hartford 4 NF City Council
❤️ these little future voters made me some signs to encourage everyone to get out and vote today!❤️
Polls are open from 10am-8pm today in Niagara Falls, so go and make your mark on your ballots and have your say!
#Hartford4NFCouncil
#FirstTimeCandidate
#NewBlood
Polls are open from 10am-8pm today in Niagara Falls, so go and make your mark on your ballots and have your say!
#Hartford4NFCouncil
#FirstTimeCandidate
#NewBlood
