Neighbourhood Watch Champion Running for City Council

By Fred Sherwin Published July 23, 2026

Barbara Daniela Gandolfo holds the distinction of being the first person to register as a candidate in the upcoming municipal election in Orléans - doing so the morning registration opened on May 1.

Gandolfo and her husband moved to Orléans from Toronto in 2021. The couple live in Fallingbrook where they are raising their young son.

It wasn't long after she moved to Orléans that Gandolfo joined both the Orléans Federal Liberal Association and Orléans Provincial Liberal Association. She has also served as policy chair for the Orléans Federal Liberal Women's Club and as president of the Orléans Provincial Liberal Women's Association.

One of the issues she has been most passionate about is community safety. To that end she led the way in forming the Fallingbrook Neighbourhood Watch Program and she is an active member of the East Ottawa Neighbourhood Watch Program Committee.

On her website, Gandolfo explains that she is running for city council because she believes Orléans East-Cumberland has failed to receive its fair share of city projects during the eight years Matt Luloff has served on city council.

"After eight years of the status quo in Orléans East-Cumberland our roads are less safe, our bus network is broken and families have to travel even farther to access programs we rely on," writes Gandolfo. "I've listened to residents across Ward 1 and there is a disconnect between what our communities are asking for and what we are getting instead."

She believes she can make a difference and wants to bring about real change to the ward and deliver where she argues Luloff has failed.

Specifically, Gandolfo wants to improve the public transit service in the east end by restoring bus lines that work for students, commuters and local businesses, that have been either scaled back or cut altogether over the past several years.

She wants to streamline the process by which new businesses can open their doors. She wants to expand bilingual childcare options for families and wants to establish an effective oversight process on road construction and repair projects to minimize the impact they have on neighbourhoods and daily commutes.

Another area Gandolfo wants to improve is road safety. If elected she would wok with city staff to install additional traffic calming measures on neighbourhood streets to help put an end to "the unchecked, dangerous speeding on our local streets".

"In Orléans East-Cumberland, we are proud of our community. We look out for our neighbours and want a healthy environment for our children. I believe our quality of life is worth protecting. A safer, affordable, thriving community is what I will fight for every single day", Gandolfo offers on her website. "Together we can build a stronger future for Orléans East-Cumberland."

The municipal election will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, although eligible voters will have a chance to cast an early ballot on two Special Advance Voting Days on Oct. 1 and Oct. 4, and additional advance poll on Oct 16.

Gandolfo is one of six candidates who have so far registered to run against Orléans East-Cumberland incumbent Matt Luloff.

The Orléans Star July 23, 2026