Information for Candidates

Interested candidates must submit a completed Nomination Paper (on the prescribed form - updated form will be available in April 2026) with the required fee in-person at the Township Administration Office. 

Nominations may be filed during regular office hours throughout the nomination period, which is Friday, May 1, 2026, to Nomination Day, Friday, August 21, 2026. On Nomination Day nominations will be accepted from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Candidate’s Package will be available closer to the opening of the nomination period.

It is recommended to book an appointment to file your nomination, please contact the Township Clerk Jessica Kennedy at 226-259-9400 ext. 204 or by email.

Nomination Papers may be submitted in-person at the Township Administration Office:

Township of East Garafraxa
065371 Dufferin County Road 3, Unit 2
East Garafraxa, ON

There are prescribed filing fees which must accompany the submission of a candidate's nomination.  The prescribed fee is $200.00 for the head of Council (Mayor) and $100.00 for all other offices (Deputy Mayor and Councillors).  

Payment can be made by:

• Cash
• Certified Cheque or money order payable to the “Township of East Garafraxa”
• Debit Card
• Personal Cheques will not be accepted

The filing fee is not considered a campaign expense, but rather, a personal expense, and will be returned to the candidate upon successful filing of their campaign financial statement.

Township Council is made up of five members.

Nomination for the following offices will be available: 

• Mayor (one position) 
• Deputy Mayor (one position)
• Councillors (three positions)

The following School Board Trustee positions are available. 

Upper Grand District School Board (English-Public School Board Trustee)
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (English-Separate (Catholic) School Board Trustee)
Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir (French-Separate (Catholic) School Board Trustee)
Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (French-Public School Board Trustee)

An individual is qualified to be elected or hold office as a member of Council only if, as of the day they file their Nomination Paper, they are: 

• Entitled to be an elector under the Municipal Elections Act (1996) (the "MEA"), s. 17(2)
• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years of age
• A resident in the local municipality, or the owner or tenant of land in the local municipality, or the spouse of such a person, and 
• Not prohibited from voting as noted or otherwise by law.
• Not disqualified for violation of financial requirements or violations of requirements for filing financial information.
• Not disqualified by any Act from holding such office.
• Not disqualified under the provisions as outlined by the MEA, s. 90(2) and 91(1). 

An individual is qualified to be elected as a school board trustee if they are: 

• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years of age
• A resident within the area of jurisdiction of the school board
• Eligible to be an elector of that school board for which the person is a candidate
• Not disqualified by any Act from holding such office.
• Not ineligible to vote in the municipality
• Not an employee of a school board unless they take an unpaid leave of absence before being nominated, and resigns if elected
• Not a judge of any court
• Not a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, a Senator or a member of the House of Commons
• Not an inmate of a penal or correctional institution under sentence of imprisonment
• Not disqualified for violation of financial requirements or violations of requirements for filing financial information

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) is offering a series of workshops for people thinking about running for municipal office in the October 2026 elections.

For information on the sessions and other offerings please visit AMO's website AMO Education Workshops | AMO

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Municipal elections and governance guides are expected to be updated in early Spring.  

The Ontario Municipal Councillor's Guide

Municipal Elections in Canada: A Guide for Women Candidates

Municipal Elections Act, 1990, S.O. 1996, c. 32 Sched.

Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25

Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2