Information for Candidates

Interested candidates must submit a completed Nomination Paper on the prescribed form, with the required fee in-person at the Township Administration Office.

Nomination Period

Nominations may be filed throughout the nomination period beginning on Friday, May 1, 2026, and ending on Nomination Day, Friday, August 21, 2026. On Nomination Day nominations will be accepted from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Filing a Nomination

Nominations for Municipal Council offices may be filed in person, by appointment, at the Township Administration office, 065371 Dufferin County Road 3, Unit 2, East Garafraxa, ON L9W 7J8, during regular office hours. Appointments can be made by contacting the Clerk by email or phone 226-259-9400 ext. 204.

Nominations may be submitted to the Township of East Garafraxa for the following offices:

·       Mayor: one (1) to be elected

·       Deputy Mayor: one (1) to be elected

·       Councillor: three (3) to be elected

Nominations must be on the prescribed form, Nomiation Paper - Form 1, and must include the filing fee:

·       $200 for Head of Council

·       $100 for all other offices 

The filing fee is payable by cash or certified cheque only. 

A nomination form must be signed by the candidate and filed in person or by an agent. When filing, the candidate must provide one piece of Government photo identification, which includes their name and qualifying address. 

Endorsement signatures are not required to file a nomination in the Township of East Garafraxa.

A nomination must be filed with the Clerk of the appropriate municipality before a candidate may accept contributions or incur campaign expenses.

A person may withdraw their nomination by filing a written Withdrawal of Nomination in the Clerk's Office before 2:00 p.m. on Nomination Day. If you wish to run for a different position, you must re-file your nomination paperwork in the Clerk's Office before 2:00 p.m. on Nomination Day, which will trigger your original nomination to be withdrawn. 

In the event there is an insufficient number of certified candidates to fill all positions available, nominations will be reopened for the vacant positions only on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and such additional nominations, if required, may be filed in the office of the Clerk. 

Please review a full copy of the Notice of Nomiation for Office dated April 28, 2026.  

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 payable to the “Township of East Garafraxa”

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) - Township of Guelph/Eramosa  
  
  • one position to be elected for Erin, Guelph/Eramosa and East Garafraxa

• Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (English-Separate (Catholic)) - Town of Caledon
  
  • one position to be elected 

• Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (French-Separate (Catholic)) - City of Brampton
  
  • one position to be elected for Brampton, Caledon, Guelph and the municipalities in Dufferin and Wellington County​

• Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French-Public) - City of Barrie
  • one position to be elected 

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

Those interested in running should review the Candidate Information Package prepared by the Township Clerk’s Department. Printed copies are available at the Township Office.

Please contact the Clerk to schedule an appointment to submit your nomination.

Click the links to access fillable versions of the Nomination Paper (Form 1) and the Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report (Form 4). These forms are included in the package; however, they are not fillable.

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 (MMAH)

Review the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing 2026 Candidates' Guide linked below for information on how to run as a candidate in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Elections. 

• 2026 Candidates' Guide (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing)

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