Can't wait for me to knock on your door?
Join me for a Sunday morning coffee!
8:30-10AM.
Please fill out the form below and select a date.
Coffee is on the house at Barton's Bistro (7044 HWY 534, Restoule).
I look forward to hearing from you and discussing the future of our municipality!
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Education
I hold a Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto St. George Campus. I double majored in International Relations and Public Policy & Governance, in addition to minoring in History. I am proud to have made the Dean's List whilst pursuing many extra curriculars.
I believe my studies will be an asset to Nipissing's township council. Within my International Relations major I focused on the Cold War, national development, Empires since 1750, and macroeconomics. In Public Policy & Governance I studied microeconomics, public finance, quantitative reasoning, and contemporary crises — namely housing and drug policy. Finally, my History minor focused on Canadian history since European arrival and the colonial history of Latin America.
In addition to my ordinary studies, I am extremely grateful to have been fortunate enough to receive
the prestigious Laidlaw Scholarship and study abroad. Of the over 65,000 eligible undergraduate
students at the University of Toronto, I was fortunate enough to be one of just 25 Laidlaw
Scholarship recipients. During the two-year scholarship programme, I was funded to research
employee ownership, received a Certificate of Achievement from the University of Oxford's Ethical
Leadership Programme (yes that Oxford — haha), and lived in Kisumu, Kenya for six weeks while
working with youth moving through the justice system. In my second-to-last semester of undergrad
I was lucky enough to live and study at University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland.
I will be continuing my education in September 2026 at Nipissing University as I attend
Teachers' College.
I could not wait to work. At just nine years old I wanted a job, but those pesky child labour laws stood in the way. Thankfully, I was able to negotiate with a local small business owner — who may or may not have been my mom — but she still drove a hard bargain! Once a week, after a long day in the fourth grade, I would ride my bicycle to my mom's pharmacy to take out the trash and recycling, shred paper, and mop the floors in exchange for $100 per month.
As soon as I turned fourteen and could get a real job, I started doing dishes at Cranberry Resort. This drive to work has stuck with me ever since. During university, I would make hay while the sun was shining by working seven days a week, in the summer.
I'm a firm believer in the saying "the more you do, the more you can do." That's why in addition to my studies at UofT, I volunteered at a local food bank, volunteered for my local Member of Provincial Parliament, was active in a number of campus clubs, kept up with my martial arts training, and worked on a series of political campaigns.
I would not have been able to live half the life I have without my fantastic family. My father, Patrick Barton, grew up just a kilometre down HWY 534 from where we live now and my mother Marjori Medley from Onaping have given me so much opportunity. I am immensely thankful for my parents as well as all my amazing aunts, uncles, cousins, and brothers.
When I'm not working at the bistro, you can find me pursuing one of my many hobbies. I enjoy karate, judo and jiu-jitsu; reading (mostly non-fiction books about politics and history); shooting 30-06 or browsing sales; quading, snowmobiling, or cross-country skiing; and taking a load off with family and friends.
Personal Life
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Volunteering at a food bank
Barton boys at the Bistro
Being a Barton and the Holotuk, I often say
"if you don't know me, you know someone related to me"
Heck, you might be the someone related to me!
Judo tournament in Dublin
Why Politics?
You'll have to forgive me for sounding cliché, but I'm deeply passionate about politics because I want to help people. My ultimate goal in life is to leave the world a better place than I found it. I spent my early university years volunteering at a local food bank and helping neighbours in need —such as when I helped a family buy a hockey stick for their child or fundraised money to buy Christmas presents for a family living in community housing. Individual deeds and volunteer work is extremely important, I still do as much as I can and am grateful for every person who does the same. However, it is clear to me that some issues are bigger than individuals. I believe politics will allow me to make a greater impact and more widely felt impact.
My politics is a politics for all. I believe politics is among the most important things in life because it determines nearly everything. For example, where you wake up in the morning, what jobs are available, how you get to your job, how much you're paid, when you get off work, what you can do for leisure, what services and rights you're entitled to, and how much you pay for everything — there are all determined by political choices. In short, if you're not at the table, you're on the table. I know politics can be divisive, exhausting, and complicated causing some to disengage. I will work tirelessly to meet residents where they're at and ensure they've got a seat at the table. Together we can build a politics that unites, excites, and is available to all.
Politics is not just about freedom from, it is also about freedom to. That is to say, there's lots of focus on, for example, freedom from the government telling you what to do; I believe that freedom to is the other critical part of politics. For example, if someone cannot afford to live a dignified life, then they lack the freedom to fully develop their skills, pursue their interests, and participate in our society. I believe in a society and a government which improves the wellbeing of its residents and therefore increases their freedom. I know little Nipissing Township cannot fix every issue under the sun, but I look forward to constantly engaging with residents, listening to your issues, hearing your perspectives, and serving you accordingly to make our community the best it can be.
This is where I ask you to make the biggest leap. It's often said that people or parties don't win elections, their opponents just lose. This is rooted in the perspective that voters ask "are things going well right now?" and depending on their answer vote for the incumbent or for change. But I believe the question should be "is this the best things can be?" I ask for your vote not just to preserve the good in Nipissing but to strive for the greatest.
This mission may sound big, and I know we are just a small township, but I believe the most remarkable improvements can come from anywhere. I think to Saskatchewan in the 1930s: The Dust Bowl decimated agricultural and, in turn, economic prospects. The Great Depression further pressured the rural province through high unemployment and a collapsing economy. But, in 1944 the people of Saskatchewan voted for ambition. Tommy Douglas was elected Premier with a vision to use the government as a force for good. Just three years later in 1947, Saskatchewan became the first jurisdiction in all of North America to provide free hospital care. Not New York or Ontario with their big populations, industry, or financial sectors but rural ol' Saskatchewan. As Councillor, I will protect the way of life that makes us love to call Nipissing home whilst engaging with residents to find ways to
improve our lives. I'm running For the People, For the Place.
