About
Christopher Baines
A Chartered Mediator for more than 34 years. Married, two grown daughters, one noisy dog. Eight years on Collingwood’s town boards and committees, and now seeking your vote to continue on Council.
Christopher Baines
Chartered Mediator and candidate for Collingwood Council.
The short version
Thirty-Four years of getting people to say yes
Mediation is a strange profession to explain at a barbecue. The plain version: two sides arrive certain they are right and certain the other side is unreasonable, and my job is to find the outcome both of them can actually live with.
More than thirty-four years of that leaves a mark on how you approach municipal politics. I do not think the loudest person in the room is usually the most right. I do think most council disagreements are solvable once someone bothers to separate what people are demanding from what they actually need.
I still practise, working with individuals, organizations and families in conflict, and I specialize in family estate facilitation.
I have also run for council twice, in 2018 and again in 2020, and came up short both times. I kept serving anyway — on Town committees and in the community— because the work does not stop between elections. I am running a third time because the issues on this site have not gone away, and neither have I.
Experience
Where I’ve served
- Police Services BoardTown of Collingwood, 2014–2018
- Committee of AdjustmentTown of Collingwood, 2018–2022
- Member, Poet Laureate Selection CommitteeTown of Collingwood, 2017
- Official Fence ViewerTown of Collingwood, 2017
- Museum Advisory BoardMember, Town of Collingwood
2022 - Present
- Blue Mountain Watershed TrustBoard Member, 2014 - Present
- Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority Board Member, 2022 - Present
- On The Move CommitteeMember, Cameron Street
Public School, 2022 - Present
- Duckmaster, Annual Rubber Duckie RaceOptimist Club of Collingwood, Ongoing
- Chartered Mediator, 34+ yearsFamily estate facilitation
Collingwood Museum
The museum sits in a replica of the town’s 1873 railway station. Christopher is a member of the Museum Advisory Board.
Raises money for local youth causes in our community.
Community
Embedded In The Community
Council meetings are the visible part. The rest of it is at my service club, school committees, the NVCA and a lot of Saturday mornings.
Collingwood works because a large number of people quietly do things nobody is paying them to do. The Duck Race contributes to the over $118K that the Optimists gave out last year to youth causes. The Watershed Trust keeps an eye on water and development applications that nobody else is watching. The museum board makes sure this town remembers our proud past and looks to interpret our present.
I would rather be judged on that record than on any campaign slogan.
From around town
What neighbours say
“As a small business owner I appreciate his advice and assistance with the Town’s red tape.”
Joseph Lawrence House B&B
Heritage B&B, Collingwood
“…Christopher has always helped our community when we asked for his help, and we appreciate that.”
Muhammad Riaz
Dollar Village, Collingwood
“Christopher has worked with our neighbourhood on flooding issues and has provided support and guidance with the Town and NVCA with this complex issue.”
Heather McCleary
Woodland Court, Cranberry Marsh
Christopher Baines