2026 Municipal Election

Candidates who have filed their nomination papers will appear below during the nomination period between May 1, 2026 and August 21, 2026 (at 2:00 p.m.). Candidates will be listed alphabetically by last name. Following the close of the nomination period, the Clerk will review all nominations and prepare a list of certified candidates, and declare any candidates acclaimed, if necessary. 

Mayor (1 to be elected at large)
Deputy Mayor (1 to be elected at large)
Councillor – Elma Ward (3 to be elected)
Councillor – Listowel Ward (3 to be elected)
Councillor – Wallace Ward (2 to be elected)
School Board Trustee – Avon Maitland District School Board (English Public) (1 to be elected)
School Board Trustee – Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board (English Separate) (1 to be elected)
School Board Trustee – Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (French Public) (1 to be elected)
School Board Trustee – Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence (French Separate) (1 to be elected)

Candidate Qualifications - Municipal Council

A person is eligible to be a candidate for municipal office if they are:

• a resident of the Municipality of North Perth, or an owner or tenant of land in the Municipality of North Perth, or the spouse of such an owner or tenant
• a Canadian citizen
• at least 18 years old
• not legally prohibited from voting

Candidate Qualifications - School Board Trustee

A person is eligible to be a candidate for School Board Trustee if they are:

• a Canadian Citizen
• at least 18 years old
• a resident within the jurisdiction of the board
• a supporter of that school board
• not legally prohibited from voting

Nomination Process for Candidates

Nominations will be accepted beginning Friday, May 1, 2026 until Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

From May 1, 2026 to August 20, 2026 an appointment must be scheduled with Legislative Services. Please email clerks@northperth.ca to book your appointment and receive detailed information regarding your nomination.

On Nomination Day (August 21, 2026) candidates can file their nomination as a walk-in between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Nominations must be completed on the prescribed forms, including endorsement signatures from 25 eligible electors (not required for School Board Trustee candidates), and be accompanied by the nomination filing fee of $200 for Mayor and $100 for all other offices.

Candidate nomination packages include the information and forms required to become a candidate. Hard copies of the packages are available at the Municipal Office for pick up during regular business hours (no appointment is required).

You are eligible to vote in the 2026 Municipal Election if you are:

• A Canadian Citizen;
• At least 18 years of age;
• A resident of the Municipality of North Perth or the owner or tenant of land in the Municipality or the spouse of such owner or tenant; and,
• Not prohibited from voting under any law.

Your name must also be on the Voters’ List in order to cast a ballot.

Elections Ontario is responsible for maintaining the Permanent Register of Electors for Ontario, commonly known as the Register or Voters' List. The Voters' List is a list of individuals that are eligible to vote in provincial and local municipal elections in Ontario.

Are you registered to Vote? Register now!

What is a Third Party Advertising?

Third party advertising refers to advertisements or other materials that support, promote or oppose a candidate, or support, promote or oppose a “yes or “no” answer to a question on the ballot.

Third party advertising is separate from any candidate's campaign, and must be done independently from a candidate. Any advertisements or materials that are made and distributed by a candidate, or under a candidate's direction, are part of the candidate's campaign.

Third party advertising is a way for those outside of the candidate's campaign to express support or opposition to candidates and to try to persuade voters to vote a certain way.

A third party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that promotes, supports or opposes a candidate, or a “yes' or “no” answer to a question on the ballot. Advertisements include traditional ads as well as materials such as brochures or signs.

What is not a third party advertisement?

Activities that do not involve spending money, such as discussions or expressing an opinion about a candidate are not considered to be third party advertising. Examples include:

• Speaking to friends and neighbours
• Posting on social media, such as twitter, facebook or Instagram
• Sending an email to a group or mailing list. 

Who can be a third party advertiser?

Only those who have registered can spend money on third party advertising. The following are eligible to register as a third party advertiser:

• any person who is a resident in Ontario
• a corporation carrying on business in Ontario
• a trade union that holds bargaining rights for employee in Ontario 

Who cannot be a third party advertiser?

A candidate running for any municipal council or school board office cannot registered to be a third party advertiser in any municipality.

Groups, associations or businesses that are not corporations are not eligible to register and may not spend money on third party advertising in municipal elections. For example, neighbourhood associations, clubs or professional associations cannot register and cannot make contributions to third party advertisers. Members may register as individual third party advertisers and may contribute individually.

Registration

An individual, corporation or trade union must be registered with the Municipal Clerk to be a third party advertiser in a municipality by completing a Notice of Registration – Third Party – Form 7. Being registered in a municipality allows the third party to advertise to the voters in that municipality. A third party advertiser can support or oppose any candidate or candidates who will be voted on by the people in that municipality. This includes candidates running for local council, school trustee and candidates running for offices on an upper tier council.

Additional information will be provided when it is available.

• May 1, 2026: First day candidates can file nomination papers and first day third party advertisers can register
• August 21, 2026: Last day candidates can file nomination papers, by 2:00 pm.
• October 23, 2026: Last day third party advertisers can register
• October 26, 2026: Election Day
• October 27, 2026: Official election results declared
• November 15, 2026: New term of Council commences
• November 16, 2026: Inaugural Council meeting

Notice of Nomination for Office

What is a Compliance Audit Committee?

The Compliance Audit Committee (CAC) is responsible for reviewing and considering compliance audit applications submitted by an elector who believes that a Candidate or Registered Third Party Advertiser has contravened a provision of the Municipal Elections Act (MEA) relating to election campaign finances. The CAC is also responsible for reviewing reports submitted by the Municipal Clerk with respect to any contributor who appears to have contravened any of the contribution limits to a candidates’ election campaign or to a Registered Third Party Advertiser. The Committee has the authority to:

• Grant or reject a compliance audit application;
• Appoint an auditor to conduct an audit where the application is granted;
• Consider the auditor’s or Clerk’s report within 30 days of receiving it; and
• Decide whether to commence legal proceedings against the Candidate, a contributor or Registered Third Party for any apparent contravention.

2026-2030 Compliance Audit Committee

The Municipality of North Perth, the City of Stratford, the Town of St. Marys, the Township of Perth East, the Township of Perth South and the Municipality of West Perth are working together to establish a Joint Compliance Audit Committee (JCAC). 

This Committee will review candidate or registered third-party 2026 election campaign finances. When an application is made to the JCAC, the municipality will strike a committee and invite members from a pool of accepted applicants to participate in the review of the relevant campaign finances.

Applying to be a Member

We are looking for individuals to join the committee membership pool for a 4-year term ending November 2030. Interested candidates who have financial, accounting, or legal expertise and knowledge of the municipal election process are invited to apply.

Applications must be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk for the City of Stratford on or before Friday, August 28, 2026.

Apply to join the JCAC

Joint Election Compliance Audit Committee Application Form (printable)

Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure

Joint Election Compliance Audit Committee Terms of Reference

Joint Election Compliance Audit Committee Rules of Procedure - 2026

• Municipal Elections Act
• Municipal Act
• 2026 Voters' Guide
• 2026 Candidates' Guide
• 2026 Third-Party Advertisers' Guide
• Elections Ontario - Voter Registration
• Municipality of North Perth 2026 Municipal Election Procedures
• Confirm or Change Your School Support Designation

Certificate of Election Results

Eligible Electors: 10,731

Voter Turnout: 3,100 (29%)

Declined Ballots: 1

Rejected Ballots: 7

2022 Notice of Default Report

All financial statements are public documents. The Clerk is required to make available the financial statements in an electronic format. Please contact the Clerk if you would like a copy of a candidate’s financial statement.