Jack Harrison pitches experience, growth and stability in bid for second mayoral term
The Acadia newsroom met with incumbent mayor Jack Harrison ahead of the Dryden municipal election on October 26.
As he seeks a second term, Harrison is making the case that his first four years in office have delivered tangible results, highlighting progress on housing, infrastructure and economic development while pitching experience and steady leadership to voters
Housing, Infrastructure Lead List of First Term Accomplishments
Looking back on his current term from 2022-2026, Harrison points to housing as one of council’s most significant achievements.
He said more than 140 housing units have been developed during the past four years, while the city also negotiated an agreement to acquire surplus waterfront property that could support future residential growth.
“When we were elected, there was a housing crisis in Dryden. Since then, we’ve seen unprecedented housing expansion,” Harrison said. “We don’t build the homes, but we do set the political climate and help with the planning to get them off the ground.”
The mayor acknowledged that high construction costs and shortages in the skilled trades remain major challenges. However, he said Dryden’s reputation for having responsive municipal staff and an efficient permitting process helps attract developers. He also pointed to recent investments in multi-residential and senior housing as a way to create more affordable options while freeing up existing homes for younger buyers.
Beyond housing, Harrison highlighted efforts to strengthen relationships with neighbouring First Nations through a regional summit.
“We worked together to build collaboration, find out the concerns of our neighbours and try to work together to solve them,” he said.
Harrison also lauded the city’s decision to take over operations of Sandy Beach Golf Course when a private operator could not be found. He said memberships have tripled since the city stepped in.
Infrastructure investments, including two major road projects and expansions to water and sewer services, also rank among the accomplishments he is most proud of.
Council Conflict and Outstanding Priorities
Harrison described his biggest disappointment as ongoing conflicts involving one councillor and concerns about how municipal staff have been treated during council meetings.
“I’m disappointed our staff has not been treated well,” he said. “One councilor has bullied and harassed staff. We’ve tried to hold this individual accountable and it just hasn’t seemed to be successful.”
He said the issue became a distraction from council’s broader work and believes elected officials need to be more proactive in enforcing respectful conduct during meetings.
Dryden councilor Ritch Noel has been the subject of seven Integrity Commissioner investigations during his time on Council.
In June, Noel wrote a statement responding to the investigations.
“It is the responsibility of elected officials to represent those who elected them and I take that obligation seriously,” Noel wrote. “Part of that process involves holding senior staff accountable when the need to do so is present. There have been several other Integrity Commissioner reports that have determined that I have not violated the code of conduct. Mayor Harrison and Mr. Nesbitt should accept that as an elected official, I will continue to hold them to task and look forward to seeing our differences resolved.”
The next week, Harrison responded.
“I urge our citizens to read the three [Integrity Commissioner] reports on the city website and judge for themselves the appropriateness of Councillor Noel’s behaviour,” Harrison wrote. “I also urge Councillor Noel, who last year was found to have bullied and harassed staff members by an independent investigator, to take respectful workplace training as directed by council so he can attend council in person.”
Later that month, Harrison said the best course of action to handle Noel’s behavior was to wait for this year’s election and “let the voters decide” whether Noel is fit for council.
Beyond council controversies, Harrison believes he has largely delivered on his campaign commitments, he acknowledged progress has been slower on expanding long-term care capacity.
After becoming involved with the board overseeing municipal homes for the aged in the region, he said he now has a better understanding of broader priorities and why Dryden is not currently positioned for additional beds. Nevertheless, he intends to continue advocating for the community’s interests in that area.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Harrison said continued investment in infrastructure must remain a priority. He pointed to an estimated $300 million worth of aging municipal assets that will eventually require repair or replacement. He said future councils will need to carefully target projects, pursue government funding opportunities and continue rebuilding critical roads, water systems and other core infrastructure.
“$300 million is a huge amount of money, so we need to be strategic on which projects are the most impactful,” he said. “We’re doing Duke Street right now — it’s got pipes from 1927 in it. If they fail, the whole downtown’s in trouble. So those are the types of projects that we need to focus on.”
Recreational improvements, including plans for a new eight-court pickleball club and the revitalization of the former curling club, are also part of his vision.
Harrison said the city’s main roads will continue to be resurfaced incrementally each year as part of a long-term infrastructure strategy.
When discussing Dryden’s economic future, Harrison said he sees several sectors driving growth over the next decade. At the forefront is the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s proposed repository project between Dryden and Ignace, which he expects will bring long-term economic activity to the region. He also cited mining developments, including projects led by Kinross and NexGold, as major opportunities.
At the same time, Harrison said the city’s traditional industries remain important. He noted that the Dryden pulp mill has stabilized under new ownership and is receiving significant investment, providing confidence that forestry will remain a cornerstone of the local economy for years to come.
Harrison’s Pitch
Harrison says he sees Dryden serving businesses from across the region that support mining, forestry and the nuclear waste project.
“You look at Kenora as a tourism hub with Lake of the Woods, and Sioux Lookout as a health-care hub for the north. For Dryden, I want to position ourselves as a service hub. I think we can host a lot of work right in Dryden because we’re so central to northwestern Ontario. I think that will be our role for the next decade,” he said.
As he seeks re-election, Harrison’s pitch to voters is rooted in experience and continuity.
“Spending the last four years as mayor has given me really tremendous insight into how the city operates. I think with my leadership, we can really hit the ground running next council. Secondly, I have 25 years of experience in leading teams, preparing budgets, building and maintaining infrastructure and working with First Nations.”
A registered Ontario professional forester, Harrison spent more than 30 years in the forestry industry, including leadership roles with Dryden Forest Management Co. Ltd. and Domtar, as well as directorships with regional forest management organizations.
“And thirdly, being retired, I have the gift of time. It’s a heavy load to carry as the mayor. I believe the time commitment to do a good job is about 20-30 hours a week, which I’m willing to continue to do for the next four years,” he concluded.
