Neighbour • Small-Business Owner • Community Advocate

Meet Paul.

A life built here. A record of showing up for our Town.

Home

This place has been part of my life for more than 25 years.

I first started coming to the Town of The Blue Mountains more than 25 years ago, drawn to the old cottages that once sat at the mouth of Lora Bay—a place with a long history and a natural beauty that was hard to miss. It was there that I met my wife, Jillaine, who grew up at Lora Bay. We married 23 years ago, and I have called this place home ever since.

At the time, the Lora Bay property was owned by my father-in-law, Ken Hoggard, someone I admired greatly. Ken’s family had come from Duncan to Lora Bay in 1923, and he spent much of his life working the land and opening up roads with horses, machinery and even dynamite. Ken’s stories gave me a real appreciation for the people who built this place.

A man with two horses and equipment beside a barn in 1938 — Ken with horses used to build dock and roads, 1938.

Historic view of the dock at Lora Bay around 1945 — The partially built dock, circa 1945.

The dock and shoreline at Lora Bay in the 1990s — The dock at Lora Bay in the 1990s.

The longer I’ve lived here, the more I think about what we inherited and what we will leave behind. I keep coming back to a simple question: what kind of Town will we pass on to the people who come after us?

Career

My professional life has been about turning ideas into results.

While teaching at the University of Toronto, I saw that many students struggled with the critical-thinking and communication skills they needed to succeed. Rather than simply accept the problem, I decided to do something about it. In 2012, I founded Mindbridge Education.

For the past 14 years, I have built and led the business. Building something from the ground up taught me that a good idea is only the beginning. The harder part is solving the problems that follow and seeing the work through.

Education has also shaped the way I approach difficult questions. The evidence matters, but so does listening to people who see things differently. Before making a decision, I think carefully about the unintended consequences. That is how I approach Town issues—and how I will lead as Mayor.

Showing up

I’m here to serve our community, not just lead it.

Community Involvement

Blue Mountains Historical SocietyBoard member and past President, supporting local heritage and preservation.
Veteran Memorial BannersInitiated and coordinated the memorial banners project with the Blue Mountains Historical Society and Royal Canadian Legion.
Thornbury Beaver Valley Lions ClubSecretary of the Lions Club and organizer of the 2025 Lions Watershed Festival.

Environmental Stewardship

Escarpment Corridor AllianceServed on the Local Government Relations Committee, covering municipal affairs across Simcoe and Grey counties.
Municipal Charter for Watershed SecurityCo-presented a proposed charter to Council with the Ontario Headwaters Institute to strengthen watershed protection.
Watershed Matters Stewardship CirclePartnered with the Beaver Valley Destination Stewardship to hold a local watershed circle at the L.E. Shore Library in Thornbury.

Paul with a community member during Clarksburg Day

Paul with the 50/50 winner and another community member at the Clarksburg Day street dance

Paul in conversation with neighbours at a community gathering

Why I’m running

“For three years, I’ve been asking questions and pushing for better decisions.”

To keep what we love about this Town, we need to change the way our Town works. Residents should have a real say before major decisions are made. We need to plan first and build better. Town Hall should know the real cost before it spends public money.