Five questions with Bill Dickson, candidate for Smiths Falls council in the 2026 municipal election

Editor’s note: To help voters to be better informed, Lanarkist will be asking the same five questions of all council candidates in Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, Perth and Mississippi Mills in advance of the municipal election, which will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Questions were sent to all candidates on Sept. 4, 2026. We will publish their responses as we receive them. Below are the responses from Smiths Falls candidate Bill Dickson. You can view a roundup of all our Smiths Falls municipal coverage and links to all completed profiles here.

1. Tell us a little bit about your professional background, including any prior municipal or other political participation, as well as about you, personally. What made you want to run for council?

My professional life has included many years as a radio broadcaster, both in news and in being the person playing the music and talking between the songs. This started in my hometown in Nova Scotia when I was 15 years old. I also spent time working in communications for Canadian Blood Services in Toronto and for the provincial NDP at Queen’s Park. For the past 25 years, I was the communications and media relations person for the Ontario Provincial Police in Eastern Ontario, with three years spent as the acting head of media relations for the province. These were civilian-specialist roles.

While working in media, I covered multiple municipal councils in the Belleville and Kitchener areas, as well as other levels of government.

My family and I moved to Smiths Falls over a quarter century ago (wow, that sounds so long ago) when I joined the OPP. My kids grew up here. Through them, I was involved in Scouting for many years and am still in contact with many of the kids and parents I met. Through my role with the OPP, I became involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. This was one of the most rewarding parts of my professional life. Meeting so many of the athletes around Eastern Ontario was amazing. I was honoured to be inducted in the Ontario Special Olympics Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the Award of Honour.

Running for municipal council has always been in the back of my mind. Now that I have retired from the OPP, I believe I have the time needed to dedicate to the councillor position. I continue to work part-time as the executive director at the Lanark Animal Welfare Society, where the Board of Directors fully supports my decision to seek a council seat. I believe Smiths Falls is a wonderful place to live and work and feel we need to continue moving ahead to ensure we are able to meet the opportunities and challenges that the future will bring.

2. How would you describe your personal political ideology and/or affiliation?

I see politics and an ever-changing landscape. While I was raised in a Conservative supporting family, my views are now more centrist. In these unusual times, I see us all pulling together as Canadians. I have adopted the “elbows up” philosophy and feel we all need to work as a cohesive team, showing what it truly means to be Canadian.

I really see municipal politics as the level where people can have the most input and also feel the most impact. Everyone’s voice is louder at the local level when it comes to having a say and effecting change.

3. What are the three most common issues voters bring up to you as you campaign?

There are many issues in the spotlight. The top ones have been transparency and openness in what the town is doing. The topic of holding police accountable has been a hot topic for many. Affordability of housing and food is also the number one topic for many.

4. What three issues are most pressing/important to address locally in your opinion?

Affordability is at the top of my list. Housing costs (buying or renting) are through the roof and the cost of everything else, including food is soaring. That’s not something a municipality can tackle alone. It’s an issue that a town council can work together in partnership to make a difference. It will take all levels of government, agencies, the private sector and more to determine how we can make life more affordable. We need to do more to support those who need a hand up and need to collaborate on what we can do.

I believe accountability is a priority, not just just for police but for everyone who works for the town. Part of that is ensuring we provide the level of service that residents and business owners deserve. In most cases that is already happening, but we need to ensure that we communicate in a way that everyone knows what is being done and why. That goes toward ensuring transparency.

Creating jobs will make a difference for many people who live here, but the town cannot create those jobs. We need to work hard to attract businesses. We may never see huge manufacturing companies come back (although we are all waiting to see what Hershey does), but any new business can create jobs and add to the tax base. We must also ensure that new businesses and residential developments are environmentally friendly.

5. What do you feel sets you apart from other candidates?

I will never claim to have all the answers. I pledge to listen to those who want to be heard and work with colleagues around the council table, as well as with town staff, to change what needs to be changed, maintain what is working well and continue making Smiths Falls a great place to live and work. I bring common sense and compassion to everything I do, as I know that every decision being made can have far-ranging impacts.