Shah Mohamed

Central to that vision is the idea of Wawa becoming a "full life-arc community" — a community where people can build a sense of belonging and continue to have their needs met through every stage of life. That means thinking about what a young family needs to put down roots; what children and youth need to grow, participate and see opportunity here; what working adults need in terms of employment, housing, recreation and sense of community; and what supports and programs people need as they grow older.

It also means recognizing that our housing and care needs change throughout our lives. A senior who no longer needs or wants to maintain a large family home should have appropriate options to downsize within the community. As care needs increase, residents should have access to supportive housing, respite services, health care and appropriate levels of care without automatically having to leave the community they have called home for decades.

At the heart of Shah's approach to Council is another simple principle: good municipal leadership starts with listening.

"We as councillors and Mayor may bring our own ideas and Experience to the table but ultimately our responsibility as councillors is to ensure the Perspectives concerns and Aspirations of Wawa Residents are brought to bear on the decisions that Council Makes."

That becomes particularly important as Wawa and Northern Ontario face potentially significant economic opportunities in the years ahead. Decisions involving major industry, emerging sectors such as technology, housing, infrastructure and economic diversification can have consequences that last for generations. These opportunities need to be considered carefully, not simply in terms of immediate investment, but in terms of their long-term economic, environmental and social impacts on the community.

Experience & Background

Shah brings more than seven years of direct community economic development experience, first serving as Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation of Wawa from 2019 to 2022, and subsequently as Senior Project Manager with Wahkohtowin Development from 2022 to 2026. Through those roles, he has gained experience on both the municipal and First Nation sides of economic development, working alongside businesses, industry, governments, funders, First Nations and community organizations throughout Northern Ontario.

Before moving into economic development, Shah's career was rooted in community development, recreation, health and social programming. His work focused on improving quality of life, increasing access to healthy activities, supporting active transportation, creating opportunities for community participation and strengthening the social connections that create a genuine sense of belonging.

Those experiences have shaped a broader view of what community development means.