Vince Kerrio previously served on Council from 1997 until 2022.
Vince Kerrio, a former Niagara Falls City Councillor, returned to the Council chambers last week after being asked to fill a vacant spot for the remainder of the 2022-2026 council term.
Kerrio, who previously served in this capacity from 1997-2022, finished tenth in the 2022 municipal elections with 5,471 votes, narrowly failing in his bid for re-election to the eight-seat Council.
Kerrio has extensive background in business, spanning a wide range of sectors including seniors’ homes, hotels, farming, construction and manufacturing industries, as well as restaurants. Kerrio has also previously served as a Niagara Parks Commissioner and as acting Mayor of Niagara Falls.
Kerrio is the son of Vince Kerrio Sr., a Liberal MPP and Cabinet Minister in the government of Ontario Premier David Peterson.
The conditions that ultimately resulted in Kerrio’s return began to unfold in the fall of 2024 when Councillor Wayne Thomson retired from a career in public service which spanned more than half a century.
Rather than holding a by-election, Council asked Chris Dabrowski, the two-term city councillor who finished ninth in the 2022 election cycle with 5,896 votes, to fill the position. Dabrowski accepted the post and was sworn in on Oct. 22, 2024.
Then, in February, long-time Councillor Wayne Campbell resigned his seat, shortly before passing away after a long battle with prostate cancer on Feb. 27, 2025.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati offered condolences on behalf of City Council at a March 18 meeting.
Council determined to approach Kerrio to fill the new vacancy in similar fashion to how Dabrowski had been asked to do so a few months earlier. Kerrio agreed to assume the office and was sworn in during the same March 18 meeting.
“Earlier today, Councillor Kerrio was sworn in, prior to our in-camera meeting,” Diodati shared. “It’s not a welcome, but it’s a welcome back… He is going to hit the ground running.”
“So Councillor Kerrio – Vince, as we call you, we look forward to your wisdom, and your experience.”
Kerrio returns to office at a time in which Council is considering whether to permit owner-occupied short-term rentals in residential areas of the city. It is also a moment of economic uncertainty for the city’s tourist-based economy due to an ongoing trade war between Canada and the United States.
Nick Redekop completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Labour Studies at Brock University. He has previously served in municipal and federal politics. In his free time, Nick enjoys following sports, taking part in outdoor activities, and reading biographies. Nick resides in Niagara Falls
