Elizabethtown-Kitley elects former councillor Henry Oosterhof as new mayor

Oosterhof will officially be sworn in as mayor on November 16

Elizabethtown-Kitley has elected a familiar face as its next mayor, with longtime resident and former councillor Henry Oosterhof winning about 56 per cent of the vote.

Oosterhof defeated former councillor Rob Smith in the 2026 municipal election, and says he is looking forward to picking up where he left off on council.

He says several projects were started during his last term but were not completed, making them some of his main priorities moving forward.

During his campaign, Oosterhof spent much of his time knocking on doors and speaking directly with residents across the township.

He says those conversations helped him hear from people in every corner of Elizabethtown-Kitley.

Oosterhof says residents brought forward several priorities, including better winter sidewalk clearing, the waterline project and the Rows Corners campus revitalization project, among others.

He believes his previous experience on council will help him step into the mayor's role and get to work on those issues.

A total of 3,525 electors cast ballots in Elizabethtown-Kitley, representing a voter turnout of 38.5 per cent. That's up from 32 per cent in the last municipal election.

Oosterhof says he's pleased to see more residents taking part, adding that municipal government has a major impact on people's everyday lives and their communities.

He says he has already met with the township's chief administrative officer and has been in contact with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.

Oosterhof will officially be sworn in as mayor on November 16.

Story by: Evan Gibb