Councillor Ayo Owodunni
Ward 5
In Office: 2022 - present
Ayo Owodunni moved to Kitchener with his family from Lagos, Nigeria in 2016. Prior to being elected to Council, he worked as a Consultant, Facilitator, and Learning & Development leader in organizations like Eagles Flight, BPTN, STRIVE! and Farmboy, as well as ran his own training and consulting outfit where he helped clients in Nigeria and Kenya build internal leadership capacity and culture. He obtained a Masters in Business Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) from the University of Waterloo and a Certificate in Adult Education from George Brown College, Toronto.
During the last few years, Ayo became very active as a community organizer, supporting African associations and community organizations to better meet the needs of immigrants and communities of color. He is the Founder and Co-Host of The Immigrant View, a podcast dedicated to helping new immigrants to Canada move from surviving to thriving, and regularly featured on CityNews 570's The Mike Farwell Show. He also appeared on CBC KW Radio segments offering helpful advice for immigrants and volunteered as a mentor with the YMCA Mentorship Program. The segment was aired in 4 cities across Canada including Kitchener, Montreal, Halifax, and Vancouver. He has served on several Boards including: Leadership Waterloo Region; Adventure4Change; Immigrant Networks; Nigerians in the Region of Waterloo; Coalition of African Associations (now African Canadian Association of Waterloo Region).
As a husband and father of two young children, Ayo is committed to creating a community where families can grow in safety and with a sense of belonging. He loves Ward 5 and is passionate about the issues that matter most to residents, including: safety on our roads and increasing community engagement.
Current committee appointments
- Animal Designation Appeal Committee
- Dog Designation Appeal Committee
- Economic Development Advisory Committee
- Huron Natural Area Joint Ventures Committee
- Multicultural Centre of K-W Board of Directors
What's new in ward 5
Happy New Year, Kitchener!
As we step into a new year, I want to wish you and your loved ones a very happy and prosperous New Year. My hope and prayer is that 2026 brings good cheer, laughter, joy, peace, and prosperity into your homes. May it be a year of renewed strength, meaningful connections, and opportunities to thrive as individuals, families, and as a community. And of course, I’m also praying for something very close to many Kitchener hearts, a Memorial Cup win for our Kitchener Rangers!
As we begin the year, I’m excited to share the launch of the new City of Kitchener website, designed to make accessing city services easier and more convenient. The City has partnered with municiPal AI, a Kitchener-based, women-led technology startup, to introduce an AI-powered tool that helps residents quickly find answers to their questions. Whether you’re looking for information on city programs, events, housing, bylaws, or permits, you can now type your question and receive a clear, conversational response directly from the website. Try it out on the City’s homepage here www.kitchener.ca/.
This innovation reflects our commitment to improving customer service and making City Hall more accessible to everyone: residents, students, businesses, and developers alike.
As we move forward together, I also encourage you to consider volunteering. There are many opportunities to give back, support local initiatives, and strengthen our community. You can explore volunteer options and resources through the City’s website.
Here’s to a bright, successful, and hopeful year ahead for Kitchener.
Contact Us
City of Kitchener
200 King Street West,
Kitchener, Ontario
Telephone: 519-741-2345,
TTY: 1-866-969-9994
mailto:info@kitchener.ca