The ward 6 incumbent will face Rowen Fraser who said 'politics is all about people and that was a good place for him to start.

By Pepper Parr

April 7^th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

He was born in Toronto, raised in Hamilton, and now wants to be a member of the Burlington City Council, specifically Ward 6.

Rowen Fraser said he has had an interest in local politics for much of his adult life.   Huge fan of Stockwell Day and Preston Manning.  Loved the CBC program Air Farce that did great impersonations of Manning.

Rowen Fraser understands the frustration and anger that taxpayers feel over the significant recent tax increases and would advocate for a two-year freeze.

He bounced around high schools, graduated but didn’t attend the graduation ceremony.

Attended Mohawk College, where he studied engineering. Considered law enforcement

He is still a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees local 873; these are the people who do the rigging and stage setup work for theatre and large musical productions.

When it came to his political interests, Fraser said he felt municipal was the level closest to people, and given that politics was all about people, that was a good place for him to start.

He feels that younger people are not effectively represented on city council and wants to focus on giving the Millennials (1981-1996) stronger representation.

Fraser understands the frustration and anger that taxpayers feel over the significant recent tax increases and would advocate for a two-year freeze.

Fraser uses the word “normative” to describe his approach to issues that need attention:

He describes normative as establishing standards, norms, or rules that dictate how things should be, rather than how they are. Prescriptive judgments, ethics, or behaviours deemed desirable or “correct” within a society.

“Knowing how you actually want to feel is the most potent form of clarity that you can have.   When you’re clear on how you want to feel, your decision-making gets to the heart of the matter  First, get clear on how you want to feel. Then, do stuff that makes you feel that way.”

Density – difficult subject to parse – Fraser acknowledges that there is work to do.  “People against density but for development. The problem Burlington faces is that there isn’t any land that developers can use for single-family dwellings. When asked for his views on the operation of the Food Banks in the city, Fraser was surprised to learn that the city doesn’t provide a dime to their operation. Social welfare is a Regional responsibility. Fraser immediately said that if elected, he would donate $5000. of his annual salary to the Burlington Food Bank every year and $5000 of his regional salary.

The impulsive statement is something he might want to walk back at some point.

Fraser is in a long-term, 13-year committed relationship.  “When we buy a house,” he said, “We want to live in a rural setting.”

Right now, Fraser is taking himself through a steep learning curve, asking all kinds of questions and talking to current members of Council.

He has some ideas on transit.  At the Transit and Transportation public meeting held last week, Fraser asked:  “Can we make passing through Burlington suck more than staying on the highway” He offered what he called a semi-serious idea of billboards that offer the advice that people can get to their destinations more quickly if they just stay on the highway instead of trying to cut through. He also posited selling advertising space near these off-ramps with extended lights to give folks something to read while they wait.

Rowen Fraser: The sense I came away with is – he is a very determined guy.

Fraser isn’t running for city council because he believes he has answers to all the problems.  He is certain that he doesn’t know what all the problems are – right now, he is learning

Fraser will give current Ward 6 city Councillor Angelo Bentivegna more than a run for his money.  The vote for this ward probably rests with the citizens of Millcroft, who don’t, for the most part, feel Bentivegna, nor the Mayor for that matter, have served them all that well.  Many see Bentivegna as a “really nice guy”, which is true, but it takes being more than a nice guy to serve as a City Councillor.

Is Rowen Fraser a nice guy – that’s for the people he meets to determine.  The sense I came away with is – he is a very determined guy.