A life built around people, work and community.
Rajee Sinha's story is one of immigration, family, service, entrepreneurship and more than two decades of calling Guelph home.
Guelph is where Rajee chose to build his life.
Rajee came to Canada from India in 1994 as a student and studied business, tourism and hospitality at the former Ryerson University, now Toronto Metropolitan University. After working in hospitality, he moved into retail and came to Guelph in 2003.
What began as a move became home. Rajee and his wife raised their two children here, alongside their family dog, while building careers, friendships and roots in the community.
Like thousands of families across Guelph, they have watched the city grow, become more diverse and face new pressures — from housing costs and taxes to congestion, neighbourhood concerns and the challenge of maintaining strong public services in a growing city.
Experience outside politics
Rajee is a political newcomer, but he is not new to leadership or public-facing work. His career has included nearly a decade in hospitality, extensive retail and management experience, entrepreneurship, and real estate.
In 2014, Rajee opened a pizzeria in Acton. Today, he continues to operate the business while working in retail management in Guelph and as a licensed real estate professional. These roles have exposed him to the realities of hiring, customer service, budgets, changing costs, housing pressures and the everyday consequences of government processes.
Rajee does not believe a city should be run exactly like a private company. He does believe residents deserve the same seriousness about outcomes that strong organizations expect: clear responsibilities, measurable standards, responsive service and honest reporting when something is not working.
Why he is running
Rajee is running for Mayor because he believes Guelph's next chapter requires practical leadership focused on the issues residents experience every day. He wants a city where families can afford to stay, seniors can age with dignity, businesses can invest, neighbourhoods feel safe and City Hall is easier to navigate.
His campaign will return repeatedly to three questions:
- Affordability: Are we making responsible choices with residents' money and helping Guelph grow in ways that expand housing and opportunity?
- Safety: Are residents, businesses and visitors able to feel secure in their neighbourhoods and downtown?
- Service: Does City Hall respond clearly, efficiently and accountably when people need help?
How Rajee wants to lead
Listen first. Use evidence. Be honest about what the City controls and what requires provincial or federal partnership. Make decisions. Measure the results. Report back.
Rajee believes political leadership should be accessible. The Rajee Listens town hall series is intended to create regular opportunities for residents to ask questions directly and challenge the campaign's ideas in public.