Message from Jess Dixon, MPP Kitchener South-Hespeler

Jess Dixon is the MPP (Member of Provincial Parliament) for the provincial electoral riding of Kitchener South-Hespeler. She was elected on June 2, 2022, on her first run for office. Prior to being elected, Jess was a crown attorney (a criminal prosecutor). Although she can no longer practice as a crown due to her position as an elected official, Jess remains a member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario. She is also a strong advocate of alternative justice measures. 

I went to Highland Public School in Galt before transferring to St. John’s-Kilmarnock School in Breslau from Grades 6 through 12. I received my undergraduate degree in philosophy from the University of Guelph, with an informal minor in Middle Eastern history and philosophy. I then completed my law degree at the University of Ottawa, graduating in 2013.

While in law school, I realized very quickly that my passion lay entirely in the area of criminal law. I was lucky to connect early with the Ottawa Crown Attorney’s office and participate in several internships while still in school. I also had the benefit of the mentorship of a number of incredible crown attorneys from that office, and became convinced that my future lay firmly in criminal prosecution. Lawyers must do ten months of “articling”, or on the job learning, in order to be called to the Bar. I had the honour of completing my articling requirement within the Ottawa Crown Attorney’s office.

Although I loved working in the Ottawa office, it was always my intention to return to Waterloo Region and build my life close to my family. I was able to do so in late 2014, beginning work at the Kitchener Crown Attorney’s office. Since then, I have had the privilege to work in a number of different crown offices and courthouses, as well as serve as both a federal and provincial prosecutor. Federal crowns deal primarily with CDSA or drug offences, whereas provincial crowns prosecute all Criminal Code offences.

Like many politicians, I arrived where I am not through any desire to be a politician, but rather because I felt driven to advocate on a larger scale than I could manage as a single crown attorney. The main role of an MPP is, I believe, to be a messenger and an advocate. We are surrounded by competing voices, some louder than others. 

I think my role is to try and find the voices that have something valuable to say but may not be able to make themselves heard, and to then connect them to the ears that should be listening. 

I will always do this, to the best of my ability.