Information for Candidates FAQ

How do I file my nomination?

Nominations for these positions will open May 1, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. and close on August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. You must schedule a nomination meeting with the City Clerk’s Office during this period in order to file your nomination.

Please contact [email protected] to secure your nomination meeting and receive detailed information regarding your nomination.

During the Appointment you will need to pay the nomination fee, provide identification and swear an oath. You can also complete the following forms and bring them with you to your nomination meeting with the City Clerk. Please don’t sign these forms until you are at your appointment:

For Mayor and Council Candidates

For School Board Trustee Candidates (English Public and English Separate)

Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (French-Public) – This contest is administered by the City of London, as the largest municipality within the school board’s jurisdiction. You can file your nomination papers with the City Clerk of the City of London. You can find our more information on their website at City of London – Information for Candidates or contact the City Clerk at [email protected] or 519-661-4535 for information about the nomination process.

Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir (French-Separate) – This contest is administered by the City of Brampton. You can file your nomination papers with the City Clerk of the City of Brampton. You can find our more information on their website at City of Brampton – Information for Candidates or contact the City Clerk at [email protected] or 905-874-2424 for information about the nomination process.

Am I Qualified to Run for City Council?

To qualify for nomination to City Council, you must be:

18-years of age or older on election day
A Canadian citizen
Be an eligible elector in the City of Guelph (resident, property owner/tenant or their spouse)
Not disqualified from running by the Legislative Assembly Act or any other legislation

Am I Qualified to Run for School Board Trustee?

To qualify for nomination for School Board Trustee, you must be:

18 years of age or older on election day
A Canadian citizen
Must meet specific qualifications depending on the school board you are nominated to (for example, being a Roman Catholic, or holding French language rights).

What else should I know before submitting my nomination?

The City of Guelph hosted two Candidate Information Sessions for those interested in learning more about running in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election. Check out the recordings and presentation resources if you weren’t able to join.

Session 1 – Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Sebastien Haley and Payton Ebel from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing covered:

Election legislation
Financial filing requirements
Third-party advertisers

View the recording of the April 1 candidate information session

April 1 Presentation Resources

Session 2 – Monday, April 13, 2026

Rick O’Connor, former City Clerk and municipal lawyer for the City of Ottawa covered:

The role of a City Councillor
What to expect if elected
Real-world insights from municipal leadership

View the recording of the April 13 candidate information session

April 13 Presentation Resources

At both sessions, Guelph’s Clerk’s Office staff walked through the nomination process for local candidates.

Campaigning FAQ

Can I place signs as part of my campaign?

Yes you can! Placing election signs is defined in the City of Guelph’s Election Sign By-law. To place an election sign, you must be a registered candidate for the 2026 Municipal and School Board election. Signs may be placed starting August 22, 2026.

There are some requirements for election signs, including size, location of placement, and there are fees associated with placing signs. You can find out more with the Municipal Election Signs Information for Candidates and Third Parties.

Do I get access to the Voters List?

A copy of the Voters’ List will be provided to candidates in September 2026. Candidates can campaign right up to and during election day on October 26, 2026.

Please note that information from the Voters’ List can only be used for the purposes of the Municipal Election. The list cannot be used for commercial purposes. Candidates must ensure that members of their campaign teams are aware of these restrictions on the use of the Voters’ List.

Campaign Expenses

Campaign expenses cannot be incurred before a candidate has filed their nomination papers with the City Clerk. Each candidate will receive a notification of the eligible amount they can spend based on the 2022 electoral counts when they file a nomination paper. A subsequent calculation based on 2026 electoral counts will be issued in September. The greater of the two shall be the final amount used for the purposes of the 2026 election.

Campaign Contributions

Campaign contributions cannot be collected until you file your nomination papers with the City Clerk. Candidates are required to open a bank account exclusively for your campaign if you accept any contributions of money (including contributions from yourself or your family) or incur any expenses. If you do not incur any expenses, or receive any contributions, you will not need to open an account.

You cannot use your personal bank account for campaign finances in any capacity.

Your nomination fee is not considered a campaign expense and does not fall into this category.

Campaign contributions are capped at $1,200 per individual, and this total includes monetary donations or in-kind goods or services used for campaign purposes. It is the responsibility of the candidate to communicate these limits to possible donors. Contributions under 25$ may be made in cash, but anything over 25$ must be made by cheque, money order or by a method that shows where the funds originated (for example, electronic transactions).

What are some examples of campaign contributions?

Some examples include, but are not limited to:

Contributions of money, goods or services that are used for your campaign by others, or yourself and your family
Discounts on goods or services provided for your campaign, or services provided for free for your campaign. The difference between the full price and the cost paid is considered a contribution
Events sold at a fundraiser or ticket sales related to campaign events
The market value of an inventory of items previously provided or purchased for a campaign that are used in the 2026 election

Who is ineligible to make campaign contributions?

The following individuals and organizations are not permitted to make contributions to municipal council and school board campaigns:

a corporation
a trade union
an individual who is not a resident in Ontario
a federal political party, constituency association, or a registered candidate in a federal election
a provincial political party, constituency association, or a registered candidate or leadership contestant
a federal or provincial government, a municipality or a school board

Corporations and trade unions, as well as individuals, may however register as a third-party advertiser or contribute to a third-party advertiser. More information about third party advertisers is available by visiting the Third Party Advertisers.

Candidate Resources

Please find a list of useful resources for candidates to read and consider. These resources are from organizations across Ontario, and the City of Guelph is not responsible for their accuracy. If you have questions, please contact [email protected] for more information.