Temagami Municipal Election — October 26, 2026

Temagami Deserves Better.
I Am Ready To Fight For It.

Krzysztof “Kris” Betkowski — Running for Mayor of Temagami

I have negotiated and managed million dollar contracts in boardrooms and I have gotten my hands dirty fixing what needed fixing. Temagami needs a mayor who can do both — someone who will fight for this town at the table and roll up their sleeves when the work needs doing.
Kris and Sylvia Betkowski in front of Temagami train station

I will work on what this town needs. Without raising your taxes.

My Story

25 Years of Temagami

I did not grow up here. Nobody handed me this place.

I came to Temagami for the first time with my two kids, a pop-up camper, and a canoe. We stopped at Busy Bee for lunch. I walked into a fishing store and a man named Bill pointed me toward the fish. I rented a houseboat one summer. A local named Brian taught me things about this land you only learn from someone who has lived here their whole life.

I kept coming back. Several times a year. Every year. Because Temagami got into me the way it gets into everyone who really pays attention to it.

I was born in Poland. Moved to Germany at nine. Moved to Canada at thirteen with nothing and built everything from scratch. Started as a programmer, worked my way to VP, managed teams and budgets in the tens of millions. Along the way I bought properties, learned to renovate with my own hands, and built a property management company.

My son Sebastian is a mechanic. My daughter Karolina just became a nurse and landed her first job at Woodstock Hospital. My partner Sylvia and I have been together five years. Her boys Damian and Dmitry have grown up fishing and riding ATVs in Temagami. We are loud, we are busy, and we love this place.

When we saw 2 Poplar Crescent — a place that needed work but had bones worth saving — we did not hesitate. We bought it, rolled up our sleeves, and made it home — and we are still at it.

That is why I am running for Mayor.

Kris and Sylvia at sunset on a Temagami lake
The Issues

What Temagami Needs.
You Said It. I Heard It.

Real concerns from real people in this community. Six commitments I will work on from day one.

01
A Living Downtown

Empty buildings, closed stores, no year-round grocery. Temagami’s main street should be a destination — not a ghost town. I will work to attract businesses and fill those spaces.

02
Real Jobs Year Round

Tourism alone does not pay the bills in January. We need businesses and employers that keep people here through the winter. A town people can actually afford to live and work in.

03
Infrastructure That Lasts

Roads, water, housing. The basics need to work properly. I will prioritize practical infrastructure over vanity projects — things that make daily life better for the people who actually live here.

04
Stewardship of the Lake

Lake Temagami is not a backdrop. It is the reason this place exists. I will uphold the Tenets for Temagami. Water quality, the Skyline Reserve, and responsible lake access are not negotiable. When decisions affect lake property owners I will consult them properly — not present them with a single option after the decision has already been made.

05
Rural Temagami Matters Too

Not everyone lives in the townsite or on the lake. Rural residents along Highway 11 and surrounding roads depend on that corridor for everything. I will advocate to the Ministry of Transportation for proper maintenance and ensure rural voices have a seat at the table.

06
One Temagami

Temagami is home to many communities — the townsite, the lake, Fox Run, rural residents, and Bear Island, home to the Teme-Augama Anishnabai whose connection to this land goes back thousands of years. I commit to building a respectful ongoing relationship with Temagami First Nation, the TLA, MNR, and all community groups — not just when there is conflict but as regular practice. Temagami working as one for everyone who calls this place home.

“I am not running to serve one term. I am running because I believe in what Temagami can become and understand that real change takes time. If you give me this opportunity I commit to showing up, following through, and building something that lasts well beyond a single term.”

Ask Kris Anything

Ask Me Anything.
I Will Answer Publicly.

Real questions from real people. No filters.

Send Your Question

I read every message and answer publicly. No spin, no talking points.

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Kris reads every one. Watch this page for his public answer.

Answered Questions

The Town Decides

The Hair Vote.

I promised to let Temagami weigh in on one thing. If you elect me mayor I will honour whatever you decide. Cut it or keep it — your call.

Keep It
Cut It
Keep It
Cut It
✉️

Cast Your Vote

Email askme@krisfortemagami.ca with KEEP IT or CUT IT in the subject line.
One vote per person. Results updated regularly.

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Get In Touch

Let’s Talk.

Have a question, an idea, or just want to talk? I want to hear from you. No gatekeepers, no communications team. Just me.