Rick Upton
Let’s grow Stouffville smart, let’s grow it right.
Experience that delivers for Ward 4
Twelve years on Council and a lifetime in local business, put to work protecting what makes Stouffville a great place to live.
Grow the Right Way
Growth should follow infrastructure, not outrun it, roads, parks and services ready before we approve more homes.
Safer Streets
When residents flag a real safety concern, the Town listens and acts, crosswalks, speed management and safer roundabouts.
Business & Jobs
Attract businesses, jobs and investment so residents don’t carry the tax load alone, building a complete community.
Accountable to You
Council works for you. When you call, I answer; when you email, I respond; when you raise an issue, I follow up.
Experience Matters
After 12 years on Council, I know how municipal government works, and that the most important thing a councillor can do is ask why.
Protect What’s Special
We can grow without losing the community we love, welcoming new families while protecting the quality of life that makes Stouffville home.
Election Day is Monday, October 26
New this year: vote online from October 17th to 26th. Advance and in-person voting available too.
Meet Rick Upton
A business owner, community builder, and your Ward 4 Councillor for the past 12 years.
Rick Upton is a seasoned professional, entrepreneur, and dedicated community advocate who has served for 12 years as the Stouffville Councillor for Ward 4. With more than four decades of professional and community experience, Rick has built a career focused on leadership, business development, and strengthening the community he calls home.
He spent 25 years in managerial positions at Zellers, which laid the foundation for him to become the owner and operator of RWorld Office Supplies for 16 years. Rick founded and managed the Stouffville Home & Lifestyle Show for eight years, an initiative dedicated to promoting local businesses and services, and co-founded and chaired Stouffville Networking Professionals, strengthening the local business community.
In his role as Councillor, Rick has been an active member of numerous committees and community boards across Whitchurch-Stouffville. His contributions and his dedication to the community reflect his commitment to enhancing quality of life and the local business environment.
Experience and knowledge matter
Committees and boards Rick has served on for the residents of Whitchurch-Stouffville:
- Committee of Adjustment
- Downtown Stouffville Working Group
- Main Street Reconstruction Steering Committee
- Trustee, Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library Board
- 55+ Club Advisory Committee
- Accessibility Advisory Committee
- 19 on the Park Advisory Committee
- Stouffville Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
- BNI Networking, President
- Neighbourhood Watch
- Village of Stouffville Stakeholders Committee
Out and About in the Community
From ribbon-cuttings and cultural celebrations to community safety and local events, Rick shows up for Stouffville.
Let’s grow Stouffville, but let’s grow it right
Growth is coming. The question is how we manage it. Here’s what I’ll keep fighting for.
Grow the right way
I am not against growth. I am against growth getting ahead of the infrastructure needed to support it. Before we approve more homes, we need to make sure our roads, traffic systems, parks, recreation facilities and other services are ready. Residents should not have to live with more traffic, overcrowded facilities and inadequate infrastructure because development moved faster than the Town could keep up. I will continue to ask the tough questions and push for responsible development that works for today’s residents and tomorrow’s families. Growth should follow infrastructure, not outrun it.
Safer streets. Safer neighbourhoods.
Residents know their neighbourhoods better than anyone. When residents identify a genuine safety concern, I believe the Town needs to listen, investigate and act. I will continue advocating for practical measures such as:
More crosswalks • Speed management • Speed humps • Delineators • Stop signs • Better signage • Improved pedestrian safety • Safer roundabouts
Not every street needs the same solution. But when there is a demonstrated problem, doing nothing should not be the answer. You should feel safe walking through your own neighbourhood.
More businesses. More jobs. A stronger tax base.
Stouffville cannot rely primarily on residential taxpayers to fund the services and infrastructure we need. We need to attract businesses, employment and commercial and industrial development. A stronger business community means:
More local jobs • More economic opportunity • More investment • A broader tax base
We should support the businesses already here and make Stouffville a community where new businesses want to invest. The goal isn’t simply to build more houses. The goal is to build a complete community where people can LIVE, WORK and RAISE THEIR FAMILIES.
Your taxes. Your town. Your voice.
Council and Town staff work for you, the residents and taxpayers. You deserve a councillor who listens, responds and follows through. My office phone is forwarded to my cell phone. When you call, I answer. When you email, I respond. When you raise an issue, I follow up. I will continue keeping residents informed through Town Hall meetings, newsletters, social media and direct communication. You shouldn’t have to wonder what is happening at Town Hall. You deserve to know.
Experience matters
The decisions facing Stouffville are getting bigger, more complicated and more expensive. Experience matters. After 12 years representing Ward 4, I understand how municipal government works. I know the process. I know the questions to ask. And I know that sometimes the most important job a councillor can do is ask why. When something doesn’t make sense, I will question it. When residents have concerns, I will bring them forward. And when an issue isn’t resolved, I will keep pushing until there is an answer. That’s what representation means to me.
LISTEN. ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS. GET RESULTS.
Let’s protect what makes Stouffville special
We can grow without losing the community we love. We can welcome new families while protecting the quality of life of the people who are already here. We can build new neighbourhoods while making sure the roads, parks and facilities keep pace. We can attract new businesses and jobs while supporting the businesses that have already invested in Stouffville. And we can plan for the future without forgetting the residents who built this community. Let’s grow Stouffville. Let’s grow it responsibly. And let’s make sure we don’t lose what makes Stouffville special.
Ready to keep Ward 4 moving forward?
Re-elect Rick Upton on October 26.
Four years of getting Stouffville ready
From a new Official Plan and long-term transportation and water plans to heritage protection, traffic calming, housing initiatives and improved online services, here’s some of what Rick and Council have delivered. The job now is to implement those plans properly and make sure our infrastructure keeps pace with growth.
New Official Plan
Council adopted Re-Imagine Stouffville, the Town’s new Official Plan, guiding growth and development to 2051.
Traffic Calming
Ward 4 piloted delineators and speed humps; Stouffville is now moving toward permanent speed humps as a long-term measure town-wide.
Housing Accelerator Fund
Secured more than $8 million federally to accelerate 225 homes over three years and help spur roughly 1,240 homes over the next decade.
Affordable Housing Plan
Council approved the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan in December 2025, with incentives to encourage affordable housing by private and non-profit providers.
Memorial Park Trail & Skating Trail
The 275-metre multi-purpose trail opened in 2024, and the refrigerated skating trail opened in January 2025, a new year-round facility in the centre of town.
Memorial Park-Rouge Trail Link
Completed June 2026, connecting the Memorial Park trails to the Stouffville-Rouge network toward Rouge National Urban Park.
Ballantrae Fire/Paramedic Station
The 2025 capital budget allocated $9.75 million toward Fire Station 5-2 in Ballantrae, investing in emergency response beyond the urban centre.
Attracting New Business
A five-year Development Charges Deferral Program and a five-year exemption on the Town’s portion of tax on new assessed value, at no cost to Stouffville.
Economic Development Strategy
A new Economic Development Strategy and Downtown Economic Development Roadmap to guide investment and support local business.
Service Request Modernization
A new 24/7 online system to submit and track service requests, winner of a 2026 Excellence in Service Delivery Award.
Application & Permit Portal
An online system for residents and businesses to apply for and track building permits and more.
Heritage Conservation
Following the 2022 study, Council designated three Heritage Conservation Districts in 2024 under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Transportation Master Plan
Approved June 2024, looking ahead to 2051 to identify the transportation infrastructure needed to accommodate growth.
Water & Wastewater Master Plan
Completed in 2024 to plan the water and wastewater servicing the Town’s future will require.
Stouffville Visitor Plan
The 2025-2028 Visitor Plan: a roadmap to grow tourism, strengthen partnerships and boost the local economy.
How to vote in 2026
The Whitchurch-Stouffville municipal election is Monday, October 26, 2026. There are three easy ways to cast your ballot.
Vote Online
Vote from your phone, tablet or computer. Instructions are included on your Voter Information Letter.
Vote Early, In Person
Advance voting at the Municipal Offices, 111 Sandiford Drive.
Monday, October 26
Vote at any of the town’s voting locations across Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Where is Ward 4?
Rick represents Ward 4, in the south end of Whitchurch-Stouffville. Not sure which ward you’re in? Check your Voter Information Letter.
Ward 4 Boundaries
- West
- Ninth Line
- East
- Highway 48
- North
- Bethesda Road
- South
- Town boundary at Markham boundary
Ward 4 street map
Find your street on the Town’s official 2026 Ward 4 map below.
Voting locations
On Election Day you can vote at any of the town’s locations, including those below. Confirm the full list and your details on your Voter Information Letter or at townofws.ca.
Get in touch
Order a lawn sign, chip in, volunteer, or share a concern in the neighbourhood, Rick would love to hear from you.
Accessible. Responsive. Accountable.
For 12 years, I’ve made myself accessible to the residents of Ward 4. When you call, I answer. When you email, I respond. My office phone is forwarded directly to my cell, because residents should be able to reach their Councillor when they need help.
After 12 years, my commitment remains the same: listen to residents, respond quickly, get results and keep Ward 4 informed. I work for you.