Westmount vote 2025:
Shawn Moss – District 5

WestmountMag.ca invites Westmount City Council candidates to present their platform

WestmountMag.ca extended an invitation to all 25 Westmount council candidates and those acclaimed, to provide an article about themselves and their platform on a first supplied, first published basis. Here we present Shawn Moss, candidate in District 5.

The articles are reproduced verbatim without corrections.

Thank you, WestmountMag.ca, for giving me this opportunity to introduce myself and present my platform in greater detail.

About Me: The Right Candidate for District 5

As a proud resident of District 5, I am running for Council to serve our unique and vibrant community.

This election presents a very clear choice in representation. The role of a municipal councillor is to be the voice of their district at City Hall, not the voice of a city-wide agenda in their district. As the only candidate for District 5 who actually lives in District 5, my promise to you is simple: I will be your advocate, accountable for the issues that matter here. Like you, my family and I will live with the consequences of every Council vote. District 5 is not a consolation prize. We deserve a councillor who lives with our unique challenges every day and will be our dedicated voice.

As your neighbour, I also bring the professional skills to deliver on campaign promises starting on Day 1.

I have over 20 years of professional experience as a fully bilingual architect, project manager and sustainable design expert. A member of the Ordre des architectes du Québec, I hold both undergraduate and Master’s degrees in architecture from McGill University, and my specialization in sustainable design (LEED AP) reflects my commitment to building a greener, more resilient future for Westmount.

My professional life, both in private practice and at Concordia University, has been defined by one core principle: successful projects are built on collaboration. My role has always involved bringing diverse perspectives into a cohesive whole, through a process built on respect, transparency, and a focus on the greater good. I had the privilege of being part of the design team for the Westmount Recreation Centre, a project that proves what a successful, collaborative process can do for our community. This is the direct, hands-on experience I will bring to Council.

My Priorities

Professional Oversight & Fiscal Responsibility
A councillor’s job is accountability. As an architect with decades of experience managing large-scale projects, I have the skills to hold city projects accountable. We must get the basics right. This means prioritizing our core infrastructure deficit (our roads, sewers, pipes) over non-essential, high-cost projects.
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My professional expertise is the best tool for ensuring fiscal responsibility. When Council is asked to approve multi-million dollar contracts, good intentions are not enough. With my professional background, I can challenge the assumptions of external consultants, providing real oversight. I will ask the tough questions before our tax dollars are spent, ensuring all major projects are managed with complete transparency and delivered on time and on budget.
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True Transparency
My commitment to transparency is about rebuilding trust. As your neighbour in District 5, I will host regular, informal “Meet your Councillor” events, always providing clear public explanations for my votes, and following up on your concerns. I will lead the charge to revamp the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) and our construction permit process, making them more understandable and efficient for residents.
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Smart & Sustainable Growth
I will champion human-scale sustainable design that respects Westmount’s unique character and heritage as well as its aesthetic and natural beauty. My specialization as a LEED AP is not just a title, it is a commitment to ensuring our City’s evolution is smart, green, and enhances the Westmount that we love.
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Community-Led Policies
My primary job is to bring your concerns to City Hall. From parking to traffic calming, from balancing the residential needs of Victoria Village to ensuring the vibrancy of our commercial areas, I am sharing your concerns. To ensure our policies are guided by your priorities, I will establish new resident advisory committees on key issues like security, parking, and accessibility.
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By bringing more community voices to the table, we can build consensus and find practical, balanced paths forward without dividing our community into “for/against” camps, as we saw on too many recent issues.
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A Safe and Accessible Community
Another key priority for me is ensuring our city is safe and accessible for all.
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As an architect, I see accessibility as more than a compliance issue; it is about dignity and quality of life for our older residents, neighbours with mobility challenges or parents with strollers. I will push for a proactive accessibility audit of all our public buildings and parks, creating a concrete, multi-year plan to remove barriers. This also means supporting our local merchants in Victoria Village with information and potential grants to make their own shops accessible, ensuring everyone can participate fully in our community life.
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For safety, I will work with Public Security Department to adopt measures such as improved lighting and increased patrol frequency in key areas, including our parks and commercial hubs like Victoria, ensuring all residents feel secure in their neighbourhoods. I will work to ensure demonstrations are not disrupting the peaceful enjoyment of our residents. I also pledge not to look the other way on the very serious homelessness issue.

As your neighbour, I am asking for your vote. I have the local commitment and the professional skills to deliver for District 5. I will be your voice, advocating for transparency, harmony, and fiscally responsible solutions that will not only maintain but also improve the wonderful neighbourhood we call home.

I invite you to visit my website www.moss4council.ca (including my answers to the Independent’s questionnaire) or instagram.com/moss4council/ for some more lighthearted musings. I can be reached by email at shawn@moss4council.ca, or on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/shawnmossarch/. I welcome your questions and count on your vote on November 2nd, 2025.

Image: courtesy of Shawn Moss

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