Are considering making a difference in your community? Participating in municipal office gives you the opportunity! As a member of Council, you can:
- Shape local policies and priorities
- Bring your ideas, experience and voice to the decision-making table
- Lead change and address the issues that matter to you and the people you know
- Ba part of the democratic process at the local level.
Municipal elections in Ontario are held every four years. The next municipal election will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026. The length of term for all municipal elected officials is four years. The current term started in 2022 and ends in 2026.
You can learn more about how municipal elections work by visiting the Association of Municipalities in Ontario (AMO) information page.
The Clerk's Office would be pleased to assist you with any questions you may have in regard to the Municipal Election. For any questions, concerns or further information, please contact Nigel Black CAO/Clerk at 705-389-2466 ex. 123 or by email at nigel.black@whitestone.ca
Register to VoteThere’s been a recent change in how the Voters’ List is handled in Ontario. Elections Ontario is now responsible for maintaining and providing the data for municipal and school board elections—a job that used to belong to MPAC. This will be Whitestone’s first municipal election using the new system. Because of the switch, it’s a good idea to take a moment to check your information with Elections Ontario. Whether you’ve been on a Voters’ List before—municipal or provincial—it’s still important to make sure your details are up to date in their database so you’re included for the 2026 Whitestone Municipal Election. Click here to register on the Elections Ontario Portal. You will need one piece of ID that has both your name and Ontario home address. Don't wait until it's too late - register now! |  |
Voting and Voter Information
Register to Vote
There’s been a recent change in how the Voters’ List is handled in Ontario. Elections Ontario is now responsible for maintaining and providing the data for municipal and school board elections—a job that used to belong to MPAC. This will be Whitestone’s first municipal election using the new system.
Because of the switch, it’s a good idea to take a moment to check your information with Elections Ontario. Whether you’ve been on a Voters’ List before—municipal or provincial—it’s still important to make sure your details are up to date in their database so you’re included for the 2026 Whitestone Municipal Election.
Click here to register on the Elections Ontario Portal. You will need one piece of ID that has both your name and Ontario home address. Don't wait until it's too late - register now!
Who can vote?
Eligible voters are entitled under the Municipal Elections Act 1996. A person is eligible to vote in the Municipality of Whitestone election if they are:
- a Canadian citizen
- at least 18 years old
- a resident, owner or tenant of property in the Municipality of Whitestone, or their spouse
- not prohibited from voting under Section 90(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, or any other Act.
If you own one property in the Municipality of Whitestone and another in a different municipality, you are eligible to vote in both municipalities’ elections, as long as you meet all other voter eligibility requirements.
Voting methods
For the 2026 municipal election, residents of the Municipality can vote by one of three methods:
- by mail
- by internet
- by phone.
You can find information about voting by internet or phone - e-voting, here: 2026-evote-common-questions.pdf
In early October you will receive your Voter Information Letter (VIL). This will include instructions on how to vote by mail, internet or phone.
If you do not receive your VIL please contact the Clerk's office at 705-389-2466 or email elections@whitestone.ca.
School Support
Although MPAC no longer collects voter information for municipal elections, it is still responsible for gathering school support information.
Property owners in Ontario must designate support for a school system, even if they do not have children or if their children do not currently attend school. This designation appears on your Property Assessment Notice. To learn more about school support, and/or to update your school support by June 1, 2026, visit the MPAC website.
Accessibility and voter assistance
Internet and telephone voting enables voters with accessibility requirements to vote with little or no assistance from others. Persons with accessibility requirements can use either telephone or internet voting without being required to leave their home, or can attend an Election Centre to vote with assistance.
If you wish to vote by internet but don't have internet access, you can use the service at the Whitestone Public Library and Technology Centre.
The 2026 Election Accessibility Plan will be posted here in the upcoming weeks.
Candidate Information
Considering Running for Council?
Municipal candidates must submit a Nomination Paper by 2:00 p.m. August 21, 2026, in order to be eligible for certification as a candidate.
For this election, members will be elected for the period commencing November 15, 2022 for the following offices:
- Mayor
- Councillors (4)
- School Board Trustees:
- English Public and English Catholic
- French Public and French Catholic
Eligibility
You can run for municipal office if you meet all of the following criteria on the day you file your nomination:
- You are a resident of the municipality, or you own or rent property there (or are the spouse of someone who does)
- You are a Canadian citizen
- You are at least 18 years old
- You are not otherwise disqualified from holding municipal office under any legislation
Required Paperwork
These forms are required to be filed in the Clerk's office, to be eligible to qualify as a candidate:
- Form 1 - Nomination Paper
- Declaration of Qualifications - Council Member
- Voters' List Declaration
- Financial Statement - Form 4 - requires Adobe 8 or higher to open
Resources for candidates
Several organizations are now offering guides, workshops, and seminars to help anyone interested in getting involved in local democracy and considering a role on municipal council.
- The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) has published Lead Where You Live: A guide to running for Municipal Council, which provides key information for anyone running in the 2026 municipal election. This guide will introduce you to some of the key steps in that process. It will also give you a sense of what life is like as an elected member of a municipal council.
- Through its Healthy Democracy Project, AMO is offering information sessions to support aspiring municipal candidates. Whether first-time, incumbent, underrepresented, or young leaders, these sessions meet you where you are and help you move forward with confidence. For more information go to the AMO Healthy Democracy Project website.
- The Province of Ontario provides online guides to support both prospective candidates and elected officials. If you’re considering running for municipal council or school board trustee, the 2026 Candidates’ Guide explains eligibility requirements, nomination steps, campaign rules, and key election timelines.
For those already elected or preparing to take office, the Municipal Councillors’ Guide outlines the roles, responsibilities, and legislative framework that govern council members, including meeting procedures, accountability requirements, and the relationship between council and staff.
Key Dates
Friday, May 1, 2026
First day to file a nomination:
- Once filed, a candidate can begin to raise and spend money on a campaign
- Preliminary spending and contribution limits provided to candidates
Friday, August 21, 2026
Nomination day- deadline to:
- File a nomination
- Withdraw a nomination
- Change office
Monday, August 24, 2026
Deadline to certify nominations
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Deadline for additional nominations, if applicable
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Voters' List available
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Final spending and contribution limits provided to candidates
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Voting period begins - Internet and telephone voting opens at 10:00 a.m.
Monday, October 26, 2026
Election Day- voting ends at 8:00 p.m. EST
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Inaugural meeting, new term of office begins.
Thursday, December 31, 2026
End of campaign period for candidates and third party advertisers.
Last day to file a Notice of Extension, Form 6, to continue campaigning to erase a deficit
Friday, March 30, 2027 at 2:00 p.m.
Deadline for candidates and third party advertisers to file the initial financial statement.
Filing Nomination Papers
When you are ready to file, please call the office at 705‑389‑2466 or email elections@whitestone.ca to schedule a time with the Clerk’s Office. During your appointment, we will review your documents together to ensure everything has been completed correctly. Once your forms are in order, we will collect the required filing fee: $200 for the position of Mayor and $100 for the position of Councillor.
Use of Corporate Resources Policy
The Municipal Elections Act, 1996, requires municipalities to establish rules and procedures for the use of municipal resources during the election period before May 1 in the year of a regular election (Section 88.18). The Act also provides that the Municipality cannot make a contribution (including money, goods, and services) to any Candidate, registered Third Party Advertiser, or political party during an election (Sections 88.8(4) and 88.12(4)). The Election Finances Act and the Canada Elections Act impose similar contribution restrictions for provincial and federal election campaigns, respectively. The provisions in this policy may also be subject to additional Municipal bylaws and policies.
The Use of Corporate Resources Policy applies to municipal (including school board), provincial or federal elections.
2026 Registered Candidates
The following candidates have filed their nomination papers in accordance with Section 33 of the Municipal Elections Act. Candidates are listed by last name under each office:
| Position | Name | Address | Telephone | |
| Mayor | Joe Lamb | 21 Fox Lair Whitestone, ON P0A 1J0 | 905-333-5951 705-389-9542 | jm.lamb@sympatico.ca |
| Councillor | Robert Slykhuis | 107 Summerhill Drive Alliston, ON L9R 0W6 | 416-881-9257 | rslykhuis1@gmail.com |