Who is Leslie Farkas?
More Than a Decade of Public Service and Community Advocacy
For more than ten years, I have been a visible and vocal participant in community affairs.
I have attended public meetings, participated in public discussions, engaged with residents, raised concerns when necessary and advocated for issues that I believed were important to the future of Wasaga Beach.
Click here - Ask Leslie Anything.
Experience That Delivers Results
Experience isn't about titles. It's about responsibility, accountability, and a proven ability to get things done.
Throughout my career as a business owner, aviation professional, community advocate, employer, and volunteer, I have been trusted with people's safety, livelihoods and confidence. I've learned how to make difficult decisions, manage budgets, build strong teams and solve problems before they become crises.
That same approach is what I will bring to Town Hall.
Wasaga Beach deserves leadership that is prepared, transparent and focused on results. Leadership that listens before it acts, explains decisions clearly and always remembers who it works for.
I am not running to become a politician. I am running to bring practical leadership, real accountability and a higher standard of service to our community.
Together, we can build a stronger, more transparent, more prosperous Wasaga Beach.
Let's raise the standard of leadership together
Aviation Leadership, Safety, and Regulatory Compliance
For many years, I operated businesses in the Canadian aviation industry, one of the most highly regulated industries in the country.
Commercial aviation operators are required to meet strict federal regulations, safety standards, training requirements, maintenance standards, operational procedures, record-keeping obligations and ongoing oversight.
Throughout my career, I developed a reputation for professionalism, safety, compliance and responsible operation.
In aviation, there are no shortcuts. The lessons learned from aviation; planning, documentation, risk management, transparency, accountability and attention to detail, are many of the same principles that should guide good government.
Building Businesses and Creating Opportunities
I have spent much of my career building businesses, creating jobs, and contributing to the local economy.
Running a successful business requires more than an idea. It requires leadership, planning, financial responsibility, risk management, customer service, regulatory compliance and the ability to make difficult decisions.
Throughout my career, I have managed budgets, hired and trained staff, developed operating procedures, solved problems, and worked to build organizations that could thrive long-term.
In March 2026, I successfully transitioned ownership of one of my businesses to members of the staff team who helped build it. That transition is one of the accomplishments I am most proud of.
Family and Community Perspective
I am the father of four children and the proud grandfather of six grandchildren.
Today, I continue to raise two young children while also watching my older children raise families of their own.
This gives me firsthand experience with the challenges facing multiple generations, from young families and students to working adults, seniors and grandparents.
Leadership Through People
Leadership is not measured by titles. It is measured by the people you help develop and the culture you create.
Most members of our team remained with the company for years. Several were there from the earliest days of the business, while others dedicated seven, eight and even ten years or more to helping build the organization.
The fact that employees chose to remain with the organization for so many years and ultimately became its new owners, is something I consider one of my greatest leadership achievements.
Chamber of Commerce Leadership
As a Director with the Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce, I worked alongside local business leaders to support economic development, strengthen local businesses and promote opportunities for growth.
This role provided valuable experience in governance, strategic planning, budgeting, collaboration and community leadership.
Tourism and Economic Development
For many years my businesses introduced visitors from across Ontario, Canada and around the world to Wasaga Beach and the South Georgian Bay region. I also served on the Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee. As such, I understand that every visitor who stays in a hotel, eats at a restaurant, shops locally, purchases fuel, or visits local attractions, contribute to our local economy.
For more than the past decade, through tourism focused businesses and events, I helped showcase the natural beauty, recreational opportunities and economic potential of our community.
Research, Accountability and Following the Facts
Over the years, I have spent countless hours reviewing council agendas, budgets, financial statements, staff reports, bylaws, development proposals, contracts and public records.
I have challenged public claims when I believed the underlying numbers, assumptions, or methodology deserved closer examination and encouraged residents to review source documents and supporting evidence for themselves.
Good government requires transparency, evidence and accountability.
Helping Residents Navigate Local Government
Over the years, many residents have reached out to me for assistance, guidance and information regarding municipal issues.
I have helped residents better understand council decisions, municipal processes, public consultations, bylaws, development proposals, governance issues and available avenues for public participation.
Standing Up for Public Participation
Throughout my years of community involvement, I have consistently advocated for transparency, accountability and meaningful public participation in local government.
I have used public meetings, delegations, social media, community discussions and direct engagement with residents to encourage greater public awareness and involvement in municipal affairs.
In February 2025, I presented a formal delegation to Council regarding concerns with a required public consultation process that many residents felt limited their ability to participate and share their views.
Advocating for a Wasaga Beach High School
One of the community initiatives I very proudly supported was the effort to bring a public high school to Wasaga Beach.
I publicly advocated for the project, encouraged residents to participate in the process and presented a deputation to the Simcoe County District School Board regarding the need for a local high school. There have been many people over the years who devoted a large amount of their energy and time to this very noble cause and I am very excited to see the efforts of so many come to fruition, giving the option for our children stay in our community all the way through high school.
Leadership isn't something you claim during an election, it is something you build over a lifetime.
Ask Leslie Anything
For more than three decades, I have built businesses, led teams, managed complex operations, and solved real-world problems where decisions had real consequences. My career has taught me that good leadership isn't about taking credit, it's about listening, planning carefully, making informed decisions, and earning trust through results.
As a business owner and aviation professional, I have worked in one of Canada's most highly regulated industries, where safety, accountability, financial responsibility, and attention to detail are essential every single day. When you're responsible for people's lives, there is no room for shortcuts, excuses, or poor planning. Those same principles belong in municipal government.
Throughout my career, I have also been committed to serving my community. Whether advocating for residents at council meetings, researching complex municipal issues, helping neighbours understand local government, or volunteering my time to improve Wasaga Beach, I believe public service begins long before someone is elected.
I also understand what it means to manage budgets responsibly. Every dollar spent must deliver value. Every commitment should be honoured. Every decision should be transparent and made in the public interest.
I believe government works best when it focuses on three simple principles:
- Listen before deciding.
- Plan before spending.
- Deliver on promises.
Our community deserves leadership that is prepared on day one, not because of political experience, but because of decades of real leadership experience.
As your Mayor, I will bring the same practical approach that has guided my career; solve problems, respect taxpayers, support our staff, work collaboratively and always remember that Town Hall exists to serve the people, not the other way around.
Together, we can build a stronger, more transparent and more united Wasaga Beach.
Experience That Delivers Results
My experience comes from building businesses, creating jobs, leading teams, navigating regulations, serving in community organizations, advocating for local projects, researching public issues, and standing up for residents.
Experience matters. But experience is not simply measured by time spent holding office.
It is measured by responsibility accepted, challenges overcome, people served, organizations built and results delivered.
That is the experience, leadership, and commitment I will bring to the Mayor's office as we work together to elevate Wasaga Beach.
Invested in Wasaga Beach
Wasaga Beach is more than the place where I live. It is the community where I chose to build businesses, raise a family, create opportunities and invest my time and energy for many years.
My connection to this community extends far beyond election campaigns or public meetings.
Like many residents, I want Wasaga Beach to remain a place where families can thrive, businesses can succeed, young people can build a future, seniors can age with dignity and residents can have confidence in their local government
The Importance of Proper Planning
As a pilot, proper planning and information management is paramount. Flying isn’t just about getting from one place to another, it’s about preparation, responsibility, and making sound decisions when people are counting on you. Every flight begins with a plan. You study the weather, inspect the aircraft, review your route, identify alternate airports, and prepare for the unexpected. You don’t simply hope everything will work out, you make sure you’re ready if it doesn’t. Municipal government should operate the same way.
A good mayor should never make decisions without understanding the risks, the costs and the long term consequences. Infrastructure should be planned before growth. Budgets should be prepared before borrowing. Emergency situations should be anticipated before they become crises.
Pilots learn humility. Aviation teaches that checklists matter, procedures matter and teamwork matters. No pilot succeeds alone. Controllers, maintenance engineers, dispatchers, instructors and ground crews all play an essential role. The best leaders recognize the expertise of the people around them and give them the support and credit they deserve. Flying has also reinforced that transparency builds confidence. Before every flight, everyone knows the destination, the conditions, and the plan. If conditions change, you communicate clearly and adjust accordingly. That’s the kind of leadership I believe residents deserve from their municipal government.
Whether I’m flying an aircraft, running a business, or serving our community, my approach has always been the same, prepare carefully, listen to experts, communicate honestly, and never lose sight of the responsibility entrusted to you. Those aren’t just aviation principles, they’re principles of good government.
Over a decade of community and government involvement
