"St. Catharines is where I grew up, it’s where I chose to live, where I chose to work, where I chose to raise my family and I am honoured that you chose me to represent you once and I hope to be chosen again to advocate on behalf of the taxpayers. "

As life-long residents of St. Catharines, Matt & his wife Shawna, are proud parents of five active, energetic children. Through their children, Matt & Shawna are very involved with many sports associations and clubs in the community.

Matt has extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. As the General Manager of Sundawn Integrated Services, Matt is responsible for the company's business development, community initiatives, and overall day-to-day operations. Building the company from scratch in 1997, Matt has witnessed Sundawn Integrated Services rise from strength to strength to become a premier leader in the HVAC industry. Recently, Matt has hired several new employees in St. Catharines, and overseen the development of the "Sundawn Service Alliance" - a network of country-wide subcontractors that assist with servicing Sundawn's growing national account base.

With a background in social services, Matt has worked and volunteered with various social service agencies throughout St. Catharines and the Niagara Region. He previously served on the Board of the Housing Help Centre, founded and co-chaired the Canadian Mental Health Association Golf Classic and served on committees with Ontario Homes for Special Care and Suicide Prevention Network.

Matt is a proud supporter of the St. Catharines community, donating both financially and countless volunteer hours to many local organizations. Matt is heavily involved with the St. Catharines Hospital Foundation and is a current board member of Community Care-St. Catharines and Thorold, St. Catharines Minor Lacrosse Association and Niagara Health System Foundation.

Matt is excited and honored to have the opportunity to campaign for City Council. If elected, Matt will be proactive in helping St. Catharines grow, adapt and once again, become the jewel of the Niagara Region.


Affiliations

Founded in 1991, the Port Colborne Hospital Foundation is an independent charitable organization whose mission is to raise money and community awareness for capital equipment needs in order to maintain quality health care close to home. We are committed to supporting our community by helping to sustain patient care services at the Port Colborne General Hospital Site of the Niagara Health System... more

The 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Awards recognize Niagara’s next generation of business leaders. The 40 winners are under the age of 40 and consistently make their mark in business and in their communities... more

The GNGH Foundation’s mission is to develop, manage, and distribute charitable resources to support and enhance the provision of patient care programs and services at the Greater Niagara General site and for the Niagara Health system. While we work closely with the Niagara Health System we operate independently to best represent the needs of the community. Therefore, the Foundation is representing you, the donor, and the residents of Niagara Falls... more

The St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation (SCGHF) is a non-profit, fund-raising organization that supports the St. Catharines site of the Niagara Health System in securing innovative health care equipment and state-of-the-art technology in modern facilities. It’s not a well known fact that hospitals in Ontario rely on their Foundations to secure donations to help pay for the purchase of patient care equipment and furnishings. While the Provincial Government provides funding for the operation of local hospitals and most of the cost of construction and renovation, Hospital Foundations and their donors have long been a key source to pay for equipment and buildings... more

ORAC represents Ontario's largest single organized body of contractor practitioners in the Industrial, Commercial, Institutional, and Residential Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Trade. As an Industry leader for over 45 years, ORAC has actively and responsibly participated in making Ontario's trade contractors one of the most advanced and efficient in North America... more

Local Union 787 represents over 3500 members throughout the Province of Ontario. The work they perform is in the air conditioning, refrigeration and mechanical systems industry. This includes ICI construction, residential construction and the service & maintenance sectors. Our work covers installation, retrofit, service, maintenance and repair of all aspects of comfort cooling and heating, as well as process cooling, ammonia, glycol systems for cold storage and ice rinks, pharmaceutical plants, supermarket refrigeration, facility management, building automation and controls, plus many others... more

The Niagara Health System (NHS) is fortunate to have the active fundraising support of several hospital foundations. Each local hospital Foundation fulfills the very important role of fundraising in their local community to meet annual equipment replacement needs, as well as for capital redevelopment projects, when required... more

We compassionately provide vital services and assistance to individuals and families that meet their basic needs and help bridge their journey to self sufficiency. Community Care, St. Catharines & Thorold has been meeting the needs of the less advantaged in our community since 1919. The fundamental principles on which the agency was founded have not changed... more

Endorsements

I have known Matt Harris for many years, both personally and professionally. Matt has always been extremely active in our community and looked for ways to influence and produce positive change. Whether it has been as a private business person or through charitable foundations and community initiatives, Matt is always a leader in making sure the job is done right and to the best of ever person's ability. He has found creative ways to bring out the best in everybody and serves as a great role model of the new generation of leadership in Niagara. There is no doubt that our city will be a better place to live, work, and play with Matt Harris representing our interests. It is without hesitation that I endorse his campaign for re-election as a City Counsellor.

Adam Cook
Vice President, Client Services
Credit Bureau Services Canada

I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Matt Harris since he first sought a seat on City Council in 2010. Rural constituents are often ignored on the campaign trail as there are great empty spaces between doors. Not only did Matt take the time to beat on our doors, he took the time to listen to our concerns and when elected, brought those very issues up at city council.

Matt Harris has been instrumental in assisting our group PALZ, People Advocating Leash free Zones with the two city dog parks. He is always right on top of our needs, working with city staff and fellow councillors to help cut through the red tape.

I am proud of the work that Matt Harris has done as our St. Andrew's ward councillor and look forward to working with him over the next term.

Thank you
Heather Fyfe
Co-chair, PALZ

Our family first met Matt Harris in April of last year when he got involved in helping us raise a banner honouring our father, Warrant officer Dennis Brown. We had nominated our father for this banner a few years prior and just before it was scheduled to be hung up, we unfortunately ran into a few road blocks. It seemed his widow did not want to give consent and the people involved did not feel the voice and wishes of his three sons was enough to move forward. That is when we met Matt. Matt got involved and gave us that voice, he fought for our right to have the banner hung and honour our father. He did not back down even when faced with adversity and the negative opinion of some.

Matt persevered and ultimately the banner was hung. Matt reached out to us and made us feel respected, allowing us to feel that we had rights and gave us support. Sadly since our father’s death we have had to fight for the right to honor and remember our father. Matt was the first person to reach out and offer to help us achieve our wish. He went above and beyond what he needed to so, including us in the process every step of the way. For this, Matt will always have our respect and support.

Sincerely,
Mack, Owen and Ben Brown

Matt has been a strong supporter of West St. Catharines. He addressed the parking situation on Van Sickle Road, and also spearheaded the completion of the sidewalks at the top end of Van Sickle. Matt listens to the people of his Ward. Matt also challenges inappropriate spending in all areas of the city. Matt Harris is a very effective councillor for the City of St. Catharines.

Paul Coates
Bascary Crescent, St. Catharines

I have known Matt Harris for many years, as our sons were friends throughout their school careers here in St Catharines.

Matt is first and foremost a family man. He is very proud of his 5 children (as he will often tell you) and has a fabulous relationship with is wife Shawna, to whom he has been married to for over 20 years.

As a Councillor, I will say that Matt has returned my calls almost immediately, whenever I have had a the need to speak with him. He has helped me on numerous occasions when it has come to Civic matters. He has personally joined my family during spring clean up week to clean out ravines on Glendale and Glenridge Avenues.

Why is it important to re elect Matt?

Matt is a one term Councillor who brings new energy and fresh ideas to a Council which has, in my opinion, too many complacent, multi term Councillors. Matt asks questions at council instead of simply agreeing with the status quo

I believe that Integrity is paramount when it comes to our elected officials. That, in my opinion, is Matts strongest attribute and the reason that I will be casting my ballot for him in the 2014 municipal election.

Jim Finley
Life-long resident, St Andrews Ward

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Matt on both a personal and professional level. Matt has been a supporter of the Niagara Golf Marathon since day one and continues to support with his time and resources. Matt’s passion for change and questioning the status quo makes him an asset to council in St. Catharines. He is committed to making Niagara a better community to work, live and play.

Chris Sinclair
Vice President / Business Development
Brand Blvd Inc.

I have known Matt for many years and I wholeheartedly support him in his pursuit of another term as city counsellor.

Matt is a dedicated family man who understands the value of organized sport within our community. He was recently a key supporter of the eight Niagara boys selected to travel to Texas and play football for Team Ontario at the International Showcase Championships which was a once in a lifetime experience for the players and their families. Matt was a tremendous help in raising funds for the trip and generously offered a prize that both kids and parents were excited to promote!! It resulted in a very successful draw!!!

Matt is an incredibly energetic man, who embraces our community and truly cares for the people of St Catharines. He doesn’t hesitate to take action when it is required, I saw this firsthand when he led the fight to have the Warrant Officer Dennis Brown banner hung proudly in downtown St Catharines. He was inexorably determined to give Dennis’s boys a voice (along with the whole community) and never faltered in the fight with city council to have that banner proudly displayed.

He listens, he challenges and is proactive, which something St Catharines needs more of on our council!! My vote is for Matt Harris – please re-elected him as City Counsellor.

Carrie Neilson
Niagara Generals Sponsorship Coordinator

I have known Matt Harris since 2006 and I strongly support his re-election as City Councillor for St Andrew’s ward.

I have admired Matt’s energy and drive and envy how he is able to balance his family life with his business activities, his sport involvements and his civic duties.

I have often used Matt as the exemplary politician. He has made a real effort to learn the various duties and functions within City Hall. He has set aside time each month to spend with the people doing the job so that he has an appreciation of what they contribute and what issues they are faced with. More importantly he becomes fully familiar with issues and with the people involved before voting on any proposal. I saw that firsthand when the issue of the new arena was before Council.

He is a strong community citizen. Last fall he spent 24 hours in his car in order to experience firsthand what it was like to be homeless. He has been a very strong supporter of the Brock Niagara Penguins, a swim & gym team for youth with a disability. The Penguins continue to publicly thank him.

Matt Harris walks the talk! He is a man of his convictions and a man fully committed to St Catharines.

Uwe J Natho
Proud supporter of Matt Harris