Meet Rob
Renew Stability and Innovation.
Rob Evans, 44, was born and raised in Waterloo. He is a long-time business and community builder. Rob is known for leading key business with several of Canada’s best known technology companies. His most recent venture, Backpacker College, is a software-based scaleup, defining a better method for folks needing trusted and less expensive places to stay for longer periods of time.
Rob studied business and has a degree in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Rob Evans is ready to serve Waterloo as its next mayor.
Across 20+ years of business, community, political, and volunteering work, Rob Evans has varied experiences working with federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government and staff, including:
CEO of global technology company
City of Waterloo appointee to Town and Gown Committee of Council
City of Waterloo appointee to Student Accommodation Sub-Committee of Council
10 years volunteering and coaching experience with Waterloo Minor Hockey, Kitchener Minor Hockey, and Waterloo Minor Soccer
Board Director of pan regional Ontario’s Technology Corridor
Board Director of Ontario’s Clean Technology Alliance
Board Director of Ontario’s Food Corridor
Board Director of Ontario’s Automotive Communities Alliance
Co-Chair and Director of MacGregor Albert Community Association with passionate team of community builders
Foreign direct investment promotion for Waterloo Region and Canada across India, USA, UK, Germany
Trade missions and delegate visits with Peter Braid MP, MPP, John Milloy, MPP, Catherine Fife, Mayors Doug Craig, Berry Vrbanovic, Brenda Halloran, Ken Seiling Regional Chair of Waterloo Region, Mike Morrice (now MP Kitchener Centre) of Sustainable Waterloo Region
VP Policy for Bardish Chagger’s Waterloo riding association, volunteer and organizer and Director for Andrew Telegdi
Town BIA activist and organizer assistance with disaster recovery efforts, fundraising and government and media liaison work
As a young Canadian, worked as Information Officer for Elections Canada
Rotary Cove Supervisor with City Parks & Recreation
Kiwanis award recipient and music performer
Upside Foundation Member and Donor
Rob Evans' business experience across 20+ years:
CEO and President of software technology company
Pioneered R&D project with Boeing
Top business director and development manager at five technology companies
Pioneered global sales demonstration program with University of Waterloo PAMI Lab (pattern analysis and machine intelligence) spinoff company Virtek
President's Club Winner and major account builder with Cornell University, Oak Ridge National Labs, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, and others
Winner of several of world's largest enterprise academic software implementations, including Tennessee State University system, National Forensic Science & Technology Center, United Nations, and others
Developed strategic partnerships with ESPN, Monday Night Football, NBC Sports & Olympics, San Francisco 49ers, Lexus, Coca Cola, Nascar.com, and ProElite Mixed Martial Arts league
Pioneered new media application with a CNN / Headline News program
Founder of marketplace technology company, Backpacker College, with partners including AirBnB, Booking.com, Expedia, and others
Rob Evans grew up playing soccer, violin, rugby, swimming, and hockey. As a kid, he was involved in summer camps, boy scouts, and his church, where he learned to nurture an active family life and give back to his community.
Rob enjoys sports, music, travel, business, and as a foodie, he has a growing interest in cooking. Rob loves exploring Waterloo and nearby areas. Whether he’s coaching kids at hockey or soccer, getting challenged at the Hydrocut with his biking friends, having drinks uptown, swimming at the lake, or paddling the Grand River, he is passionate about what’s local.
Rob Evans lives in Uptown Waterloo with his partner, professor Dr. Jordana Garbati, and his 12-year old son, Connor who also shares his time with his mom.
“While growing up in Waterloo, my family was a shining example of commitment to community. I learned a lot from my family’s experiences at the local universities, our church, the library board, and through principled family business.”
Learn more about Rob's priorities for the City of Waterloo.
Rob is passionate and qualified. Listen to and watch him speak about priorities for the City and Region of Waterloo.
Rob Evans can be reached at team@robevansmayor.ca or on social media @robevansmayor.
