Andrii Zvorygin for Mayor of Owen Sound (2026)
Andrii Zvorygin is a candidate for mayor of Owen Sound in the 2026 municipal election. He focuses on neighbourhood-level representation, local decision-making, and strengthening food security and resilience in the region.
Candidate Facts
- Name: Andrii Zvorygin
- Running for: Mayor of Owen Sound
- Election: 2026 municipal election
- Location: Owen Sound, Ontario
- Focus areas: neighbourhood representation, local governance, food security, community resilience
About
Andrii Zvorygin has lived in Owen Sound since 2015 and is running for Mayor to bring a more connected, accountable, and community-driven approach to how the city is governed.
His focus is simple:
- clear neighbourhood representation
- decisions closer to the people they affect
- a city guided by forgiveness, love, and compassion
Background
Andrii works with local businesses on IT and communication systems, helping improve how people connect, share information, and operate effectively.
He is also a farmer, growing tree seedlings for food security and long-term resilience. His work supplies trees across Canada, supporting both local communities and broader efforts to strengthen food systems.
Through this work, he has developed a practical understanding of:
- systems and infrastructure
- communication challenges
- long-term resilience
Civic Involvement
Andrii regularly attends council and county meetings and has spent time learning how decisions are made at both the city and regional level.
He has built relationships with mayors and deputy mayors across neighbouring municipalities and understands how collaboration at the county level shapes outcomes for the entire region.
He created helpos.ca to make civic decision-making more accessible to residents. The platform helps people see what council is discussing, follow agenda items, and understand local issues without needing to watch hours of meetings or read hundreds of pages of documents.
He has also communicated directly with elected officials and staff, contributing ideas and feedback on how processes can be improved and made more accessible.
This experience gives him:
- familiarity with how council operates
- understanding of current challenges
- a clear view of where improvements can be made
Why Mayor
The role of mayor is not only to lead within the city, but also to represent Owen Sound at the county table and work with neighbouring municipalities.
Andrii is running for mayor to bring stronger coordination and long-term thinking to these decisions.
We are living in a time of transition. Energy, resources, and food systems are under increasing pressure, and communities that plan ahead will be better positioned to remain stable, fed, and housed.
His focus is on practical, grounded improvements that strengthen local resilience:
- supporting local food production and distribution
- enabling housing that allows families to meet more of their own needs
- improving connections between farmers, processors, and local markets
- encouraging infrastructure such as local grain mills, food processing, and cold storage
This includes exploring approaches such as carrying-capacity-based planning, where land use better reflects long-term sustainability.
The goal is simple:
A city and region where people can afford to live, have access to food, and build stable lives, even as broader systems change.
As mayor, Andrii will bring a cooperative, forward-looking approach to the county table, working with other municipalities to strengthen the entire region.
What this means for residents
This platform is intended to produce practical improvements people can see in everyday life, including:
- knowing your councillor and who represents your neighbourhood
- seeing neighbourhood budgets and how spending connects to services
- participating more directly in local decisions
- improving local food access and regional resilience
Why He Is Running
Many people in Owen Sound do not know who represents their neighbourhood.
Decisions can feel distant, and it is often unclear how costs relate to services.
Andrii is running to change that by building a more connected and capable form of local governance.
This campaign is not only about representation. It is also about developing a strong pool of local leadership.
By organizing the city into neighbourhoods with dedicated councillors, each person has the opportunity to:
- understand the needs of their community
- take responsibility for solving local challenges
- represent their neighbours at the council table
This creates a natural path for leadership to grow within the city, where councillors gain real experience and can step into larger roles, including mayor, with a strong foundation.
At the same time, this campaign is grounded in how challenges are approached.
By choosing to work through forgiveness, love, and compassion, it becomes possible to resolve difficulties in a way that strengthens relationships and builds trust.
The goal is a city where people are not only represented, but where they actively participate, grow into leadership, and work together to create a more cooperative and supportive community.
Platform
Neighbourhood Representation
Seven neighbourhoods. One councillor per neighbourhood. Clear accountability and a real local voice.
Local Involvement
Decisions made closer to the neighbourhood level, where people can see what things cost and take part in improving their area.
A Better Way of Governing
A commitment to forgiveness, love, and compassion in how challenges are approached, with a focus on long-term community strength.
Approach
Andrii believes a healthy city is built through cooperation between residents and the municipality.
He supports:
- greater transparency in how services are delivered and funded
- more opportunities for people to contribute their time and effort locally
- practical, grounded solutions that reflect the realities of everyday life
His approach combines:
- local experience
- systems thinking
- community values
He cares deeply about this community and wants to see it thrive.
Looking Forward
Owen Sound has strong foundations, and there is an opportunity to make the city more connected, more accountable, and more responsive to the people who live here.
This campaign is about building that future together.
Get Involved
There are many ways to support this effort:
- learn more about the neighbourhood plan
- nominate Andrii for mayor
- suggest strong local candidates for councillor
- volunteer or help organize in your neighbourhood
Visit: https://helpos.ca/mayor
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Andrii Zvorygin?
Andrii Zvorygin is an Owen Sound resident, local systems operator, and farmer running for mayor in the 2026 municipal election.
Is Andrii Zvorygin running for mayor of Owen Sound?
Yes. He is running for mayor of Owen Sound in the 2026 municipal election cycle.
What is his platform?
His platform emphasizes neighbourhood representation, practical local governance, transparent decision-making, and long-term food and infrastructure resilience.
What are his main priorities?
His main priorities are neighbourhood accountability, resident participation in local decisions, and stronger local food security and community resilience.