Dr. James McCrimmon Announces Candidacy for Collingwood Town Council, Pledges “Accountable, Infrastructure-First Realism”
Decorated chiropractor, medical scholar, and longtime Collingwood resident unveils five-pillar platform ahead of 2026 municipal election
COLLINGWOOD, ON — Dr. James McCrimmon, a chiropractor, medical scholar, and dedicated Collingwood resident, today announced his candidacy for the 2026 municipal election. Drawing on a career spanning global healthcare leadership, agricultural innovation, and local civic service, Dr. McCrimmon is campaigning on a platform he calls “Accountable, Infrastructure-First Realism,” aimed at guiding the town through a critical period of growth.
“Collingwood is at a turning point, and it needs leadership grounded in both experience and accountability,” said Dr. McCrimmon. “My career has taken me around the world, but my heart has always been here — and I’m ready to put that experience to work for this community.”
A Five-Pillar Platform
Dr. McCrimmon’s campaign is built around five priorities:
- Healthcare Integration & Homelessness. Dr. McCrimmon is calling for a “Made for Collingwood” homelessness strategy that connects rapid-rehousing frameworks, mental health outreach, and emergency response with a proactive local health grid.
- Sustainable Growth & Innovation. Founder of Collingwood Vertical, a 2012 vertical farming initiative supplying food for cancer patients, Dr. McCrimmon supports a strict Servicing Allocation Policy favoring eco-friendly, high-density, transit-connected development — such as the Poplar Regional Hub — over car-dependent sprawl.
- Pragmatic Infrastructure Management. With the town facing a $127-million capital infrastructure budget, Dr. McCrimmon is pledging a “fix it first” approach and strict fiscal oversight of major projects, including the $270-million Water Treatment Plant expansion and road modernizations on Mountain Road and Sixth Street.
- Proactive Council Transparency. Citing his work drafting ethics and code-of-conduct standards for chiropractic medicine in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar, Dr. McCrimmon is advocating for a “No Closed Doors” approach to Town Hall, scrutiny of “Strong Mayor” powers, transparency around assets such as the Collingwood Terminals, and an independent transition to the town’s next Integrity Commissioner.
- Balanced Core Revitalization. Drawing on his experience running an award-winning practice and serving three years as president of the Danforth Village Business Association, Dr. McCrimmon supports expanding Community Improvement Plan (CIP) tax-rebate grants to encourage upper-level residential conversions downtown, adding workforce housing while supporting local retailers.
Background
Born and raised in Toronto, Dr. McCrimmon holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of Western Ontario, a BSc in Science from Ryerson University, a BSc in Anatomy and a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) from Parker University, and an MSc in Health Advisory Services from the American University of Antigua, where he also completed his Doctor of Medicine (MD).
Before relocating to Collingwood, Dr. McCrimmon built a chiropractic and sports rehabilitation practice in Toronto that was named Chiropractor of the Year and Clinic of the Year for five consecutive years, serving clients including NHL players, Olympians, and the National Ballet, and serving as the medical point of contact for MGM Studios productions filming in the city. In 2006, he was recruited to Saudi Arabia to establish a hospital rehabilitation branch, later moving to Qatar to help author healthcare legislation and ethics codes for the region.
Dr. McCrimmon and his family made Collingwood their home in 2012. He paused his medical training — which included clinical rotations in Antigua, Manhattan, Atlanta, Charlotte, East Lansing, and Streetsboro — to care for his wife following her cancer diagnosis, remaining by her side until her passing in 2020. Since then, he has focused on raising his son and daughter, and supporting the local community, including as a weekly volunteer with the “Love Your Neighbour” food program for the past two and a half years and as an active member of 100 Men Who Care South Georgian Bay.
“I’m not new to this community, and I’m not new to hard problems,” said Dr. McCrimmon. “I’m ready to bring that same discipline to Council.”
