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
Contact information
Coun. Ayo Owodunni
C/O Office of the Mayor and Council
Kitchener City Hall
200 King St. W.
Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Phone: 519-741-2791
Fax: 519-741-2800