Many Oakville residents knew Councillor Jeff Knoll long before they knew his name. He is the familiar face from Film.Ca Cinemas. Families know him from nights at the movies. Residents see him at community events. Young people know him from the theatre. For decades, Jeff has been part of everyday community life in a way few politicians ever are. That is no accident. He chose Oakville because he believed in what this town stands for. He raised his family here, built his business here, and has spent much of his adult life giving back to the community he calls home.

Jeff has served as Oakville’s Ward 5 Regional and Town Councillor since first being elected in 2000, earning re election again and again because residents trusted his judgment, work ethic, and commitment to the community. Over more than 25 years on Council, he has served on nearly every major committee and board of the Town and Region, dealing with the real issues that affect residents every day: growth, taxes, roads, policing, housing, libraries, and community services.

He currently serves as Chair of the Halton Police Services Board and Chair of the Oakville Public Library Board. Jeff has been a member of the Police Board since 2012 and has served as Chair since December 2020. In that role, he helps oversee one of Ontario’s most respected police services, an organization of more than 1,200 employees responsible for keeping Halton safe. He works closely with police leadership, municipal partners, and community stakeholders to balance public safety, accountability, and fiscal responsibility.

Jeff also chairs the Library Board, helping guide one of the finest public library systems in the region through growth, modernization, and changing community needs. In the past, he also led the Halton Community Housing Corporation for more than a decade. These are not ceremonial appointments. They are significant leadership roles overseeing organizations of real size and consequence, with major budgets, many employees, and responsibilities that directly affect people’s lives. This is leadership experience that has prepared Jeff Knoll to serve as Mayor on day one.

As part of his commitment to strong governance, Jeff also serves on the Board of the Canadian Association of Police Governance, contributing to national discussions on public safety oversight and bringing that experience back to Halton. He has also served on the boards of healthcare, child welfare, housing, animal welfare, and airport advisory organizations, always with the same focus: practical service and community results.

Jeff is also a business leader. He founded Film.Ca Entertainment Corporation and built it into a company that has become part of Oakville’s fabric. Under his leadership, Film.Ca became more than a cinema. It became a gathering place for meetings, school programs, fundraisers, cultural celebrations, networking events, and local causes. Jeff also led the business through the pandemic and through recent crimes connected to the exhibition of South Asian films, serious challenges to the company, its guests, and its employees. Today, his daughter Bryn Perras oversees the day to day operations of the company as Chief Operating Officer, helping free Jeff’s time to fully take on the responsibilities of Mayor. He did what leaders do in difficult times: he stayed calm, kept showing up, and kept moving forward.

Community service is a family value in the Knoll household. Jeff is an active volunteer with numerous local organizations. His wife Michelle serves as Executive Director of the Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre. One of Jeff and Michelle’s five children serves as a police officer, and another serves in the Canadian Armed Forces. Together, their family reflects a deep commitment to public service.

Oakville is changing quickly. The province is imposing growth targets, removing more and more local control over development, and directly ordering major new projects. Property taxes keep rising. Infrastructure is under pressure. Residents want to keep Oakville safe, livable, and true to its character. Jeff is running because this moment demands leadership that already understands the town, knows how to navigate outside pressure, and will always put Oakville first.

Jeff is not running because he needs a new title. He is running because Oakville needs leadership and new ideas that have already earned the trust of its people.