George Karpouzis

Candidate for Ward 2 Councillor

George Karpouzis is a candidate for Ward 2 Councillor who has lived at Musselman Lake for 22 years, 18 of which he spent running an ice cream shop on the lake’s north side.

In his interview, Karpouzis discussed communication and transparency at Council, and how medium-density housing should be defined in Ward 2. He further referred Bullet Point News to his positions on the Ballantrae Sports Dome, which were posted to the Responsible Recreation for Ballantrae website.

Background: Karpouzis has lived at Musselman Lake for 22 years and ran a local business in the area, which he considered the “hub” of Ward 2 where residents discussed area concerns.
Local Issues: He lists the Ballantrae Sports Dome, the definition of medium-density housing, a fill pit on Bloomington Road, and short-term rentals acting as “nightclubs” as priority issues.
Transparency: Residents want accessibility and open communication, he added, suggesting Council is treating information as “a commodity” when it should be more available to residents.
Downtown Density: Karpouzis says he likes Council’s promotion of high-density condominium development downtown, where infrastructure already exists.
Medium Density: He wants the Town to redefine medium-density housing in Ward 2, arguing proposals with private water and wastewater systems are wrong for the environment and could leave the Town financially exposed.
Ballantrae Sports Dome: Karpouzis opposes the dome as proposed, saying its size does not fit Ballantrae’s village-like setting. He says studies on stormwater, wastewater, traffic, lighting, and noise must be made public before construction.

Why did you decide to run for office?

Karpouzis said he has lived in Ward 2, specifically Musselman’s Lake, for 22 years. For 18 of them he ran The Coolest Little Ice Cream Shop on the lake’s north side, which he considered a hub for Ward 2.

Residents visited the shop for weekend treats with their children and grandchildren, he said, and conversations there covered Ward 2 issues, Council ideas, and what the ward needs. Over those years, he said, he took notes and listened.

He said he and his wife moved to the lake specifically, and that his children attended Ballantrae Public School. He described himself as “a true representation of what it means to live and work in the ward.”

Karpouzis said he is running out of “endless love for this community and for the people here,” and wants Council representatives to be “what the people and the residents want.” There are a number of ward concerns that need to be addressed, he said, adding that he believes he is “the best candidate” to make sure that happens.

What would you say is the leading issue facing residents in Ward 2, and how would you address that as Councillor?

Karpouzis said Ward 2 faces many issues and declined to single one out. He named the Ballantrae Sports Dome, the definition of medium-density housing coming to Ward 2, a potential fill pit on Bloomington Road, and short-term rentals “acting as nightclubs.”

Choosing just one would be unfair to the whole ward, he said, and “to arbitrarily say one is more important is just wrong.”

Karpouzis also said he has personally knocked on every door in the ward, and that residents are talking about accessibility, transparency, open lines of communication, and a sense of presence at Council. He described the job as being the residents’ extension at Council.

It is not that information is being kept from residents, he said, but that he believes Council is acting as though information is “a commodity” not to be shared openly and publicly. Given the nature of the issues, he said, every resident should know what is happening in the ward.

If elected, he said, “every morsel of information available will be broadcast to every resident in Ward 2.” He pointed to his years at the ice cream shop as an indication of how he would operate, as well as his active social media accounts.

The Town faces significant growth, infrastructure, and financial pressures. What does responsible growth look like to you?

Karpouzis described his approach for Ward 2 as “a two-pronged attack.”

First, he said he likes what Council is doing to promote high-density development in the more urban community area through condominiums, providing “more residences in less of a footprint.” The infrastructure already exists there to support however many condo developments are placed in the area, he said.

Second, he said the Town should revisit and redefine what it considers medium-density housing in Ward 2. He did not specify what the revised definition should be.

Much of what the Town is proposing in the area comes with private wastewater and private water systems, Karpouzis said, which he believes is wrong for Ward 2 because of the risks they pose to the environment. If those systems fail, he said, the financial ramifications could fall on the Town.

Karpouzis noted that the ward does need housing, but that the Town should be “more measured” in how those units are added.

What is your position on the Ballantrae Sports Dome?

In comments submitted to Responsible Recreation for Stouffville, Karpouzis said he does not support the dome as currently proposed. While he believes facilities like it are necessary in Stouffville, he said a building of its size would not fit Ballantrae’s village-like setting.

Karpouzis cited stormwater, private wastewater, and traffic concerns, along with lighting and noise, and said the issues raised have not been properly addressed. The Town owes residents thorough studies in each area, Karpouzis added, and “comprehensive studies must be performed and made public before any shovel is put into the ground.”

None of those studies have been brought forward, according to the candidate. He said he cannot fully support proceeding until all are concluded and deemed responsible, in the context of both the community and the environment.

Regarding the location, he wants Council to have “completely exhausted all other avenues” before Ballantrae is considered. He also said he has received no information from the Town on fees or schedules. Noting a private company will run the facility, he said there may be no direct and immediate benefit to local residents.

Despite the approvals completed to date, Karpouzis said that should the issue come before Council again, he “will not be supporting it on how and where it’s currently constituted and proposed.”

George Karpouzis