Welcome
My name is James Doran. Most people call me Jamie.
I’m a longtime Guelph resident who has spent years helping build businesses, partnerships, and community initiatives that support innovation, economic opportunity, and local culture. Guelph is a special place, with a strong sense of community and a history of leadership in innovation and quality of life.
Today, our city faces important challenges around affordability, housing, infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and rapid technological change. I believe Guelph has the opportunity not just to respond to these changes, but to lead through them with thoughtful planning, responsible decision-making, and strong community collaboration.
You may feel disconnected from decisions being made at City Hall. I want to help rebuild that connection through open communication, genuine public engagement, and practical leadership that brings people together to solve problems and move ideas forward.
I’m running for Council because I believe good leadership starts with listening, requires thoughtful leadership through change, and must ultimately deliver meaningful results for the community.
Listen. Lead. Deliver.
I’ve spent more than 20 years in Guelph helping build businesses, partnerships, and community initiatives that support innovation, economic opportunity, and quality of life. My experience spans business, community leadership, innovation, and government collaboration, with a focus on bringing people together to solve challenges and deliver meaningful results.
As CEO of Innovation Guelph, I helped grow the organization into a leading regional innovation hub that supported entrepreneurs, attracted investment, strengthened partnerships, and contributed millions of dollars to the local economy. I worked closely with municipal, provincial, and federal partners, as well as businesses, nonprofits, and academic institutions, to align projects and funding with real community needs.
I’ve also helped lead collaborative community initiatives including Community Builders, the Guelph Water Alliance, and the Guelph Innovation Network. As a local entrepreneur, I’ve built and operated Main Street businesses in both Guelph and Barrie and worked closely with startups, small businesses, manufacturers, nonprofits, and researchers. I understand both the opportunities and frustrations people experience when working with municipal systems.
My work has always remained connected to community. I’ve served as Chair of the Guelph Manufacturers Alliance and the Guelph Water Alliance, a board member of the Guelph Youth Music Centre, a member of Mayors’ Task Force initiatives in both Guelph and Barrie, and a founding partner of the Elevator Project, and the Ryhze Program for women entrepreneurs.
I also bring a future-focused perspective to City leadership. Through my work in research, innovation, and economic development, I’ve spent years examining how advances in areas like artificial intelligence, robotics, biosciences, agritech, and environmental sustainability are reshaping local economies and communities. I believe Guelph has an opportunity to lead by planning thoughtfully, supporting innovation responsibly, and building a city that remains affordable, resilient, and connected.
I’m running for City Council to strengthen connections between City Hall and the community, support responsible growth and innovation, and help ensure City decisions deliver real value for the people who live here.