Marianne Meed Ward Biography

Marianne Meed Ward is serving her second term as Mayor of Burlington and is the city’s longest-serving female mayor. 

She champions smart, balanced growth while protecting Burlington’s natural and built heritage. Under her leadership, Burlington has expanded access to public transit, making it free for seniors and children, as well as for youth on evenings and weekends, improving affordability and mobility across the city. 

She has also strengthened how Council works together, introducing Deputy Mayor portfolios and leading initiatives that harness the strengths of each member of Council in service to residents.

Beyond Burlington, Mayor Meed Ward chairs Ontario’s Big City Mayors Caucus, where she leads advocacy efforts to address homelessness, mental health, and addictions, and calls for a stronger partnership with other orders of government. She is the founder of Elect Respect, a national campaign promoting civility, inclusion, and safety in public life, and encouraging respectful dialogue in the face of differing perspectives.

Meed Ward grew up in Kingston, Ontario and Toronto before moving to Ottawa where she earned a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University. Prior to her career in politics, she worked for more than twenty years in journalism and media.