Shannon Mitchell, a two-term trustee with the District School Board of Niagara, is running for Member of Parliament in the Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake riding as the New Democratic Party candidate, with a platform focused on workers’ rights and affordable housing in NOTL.
Mitchell has worked in politics for more than two decades: She has worked with NDP MPP Wayne Gates since 2004, holding a directorial role in all his campaigns since 2014.
“I’ve talked, already, over the last year, to thousands of voters,” she said. “I have a good understanding of our community.”
Elected to the school board in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, Mitchell says her role helped her understand what it’s like to be a candidate in an election while also deepening her knowledge of the region’s education issues and community needs.
She says her experience in both education and campaigning will help her connect with voters.
“I have that experience both as a candidate and as a campaign manager,” she said. “But this is my first time running for higher office.”
Mitchell supports the strengthening of social programs such as universal healthcare, public dental care, pharmacare and more accessible childcare.
But a key focus for her is affordable housing, an issue she says is often overlooked in NOTL.
“The NDP is the only party that wants the government to get back in the business of building deeply affordable housing,” she said, adding that this could mean senior housing in NOTL or housing for young families.
She also emphasized the importance of preserving the town’s heritage while adapting to change.
“I’ve worked alongside Wayne (Gates) when we fought to save Parliament Oak and when we fought against inappropriate development projects in the community.”
Mitchell says her commitment to workers’ rights stems from personal experience: “It really founded who I am as a person.”
“I’m a worker and I grew up working class,” she said. “My dad was a strong trade unionist my entire life. He was one of the people in our community, when there was a manufacturing crisis here, who lost his job to overseas investment.”
This background, she says, shaped her values and her determination to advocate for working people and led her to support the NDP — “the only party that has ever really stepped up to protect workers and to fight for workers,” she said.
Mitchell, 39, said she is also proud to be a young woman stepping into this space and said representation matters in politics.
“There are not enough women involved in politics, especially not younger women. So, to kind of, have this opportunity, it feels really special.”
Mitchell sees the snap election as an advantage for non-incumbents, leveling the playing field and offering a chance to discuss pressing issues, like job protection and the rising cost of living — and, top of mind for many, tariffs.
“Our closest ally, longest trading partner, (the U.S.) is no longer reliable,” she said. “We need to be prepared for these changes, to build a more reliable, resilient economy that puts working people first, rather than the wealthiest in our country.”
Mitchell draws on her role as a parent to fuel her policy priorities.
“As a parent, I want my son to have a future here in Niagara,” she said.
If elected, Mitchell’s first priority is community engagement — speaking with residents and organizations to further understand their needs.
“I’d just like to make sure that we’re doing a good job representing our community and being a strong local voice,” she said.
In her first year, if elected, she aims to establish a permanent, accessible constituency office in NOTL and develop a strategic plan based on residents’ priorities gathered through community engagement.
“(NOTL residents) want someone who’s going to be there for them when they have a big community issue or a personal issue. Someone who picks up their phone and someone who’s present in the community.”
