candidate information

Eligibility

You are eligible to be a candidate if you are:

  • A Canadian citizen;

  • At least 18 years of age (as of October 26, 2026);

  • A resident of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake; or

  • An owner or tenant of property in the Municipality of Marmora and Lake (of the spouse of an owner or lessee);

  • Eligible to vote.

You are ineligible to be a candidate if you are:

  • A judge of any court;

  • An MP, MPP, or Senator who has not resigned from your office by the close of nominations (proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations or the Clerk will not certify the nomination);

  • An inmate serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution;

  • A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement(s) in the last municipal election or by-election in any municipality;

  • An employee of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake.

When you think about candidates for federal or provincial elections, you usually think about the political party that each candidate represents. In municipal elections in Ontario, candidates are not elected to represent a political party.

The Role of Council

The Council of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake is made up of one (1) elected mayor, one (1) elected deputy mayor, and (3) elected councillors. 

Council is the Municipality’s decision-making body. The role of Council is outlined in section 224 of the Municipal Act:

224 It is the role of council,

a) to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality;

b) to develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality;

c) to determine which services the municipality provides;

d) to ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council;

d.1) to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of the municipality;

e) to maintain the financial integrity of the municipality; and

f) to carry out the duties of council under this or any other Act.

The Role of the Mayor

The role of the head of council (mayor) is outlined in sections 225 and 226.1 of the Municipal Act:

225 It is the role of the head of council,

a) to act as chief executive officer of the municipality;

b) to preside over council meetings so that its business can be carried out efficiently and effectively;

c) to provide leadership to the council;

c.1) without limiting clause (c), to provide information and recommendations to the council with respect to the role of council described in clauses 224 (d) and (d.1);

d) to represent the municipality at official functions; and

e) to carry out the duties of the head of council under this or any other Act.

226.1 As chief executive officer of a municipality, the head of council shall,

a) uphold and promote the purposes of the municipality;

b) promote public involvement in the municipality’s activities;

c) act as the representative of the municipality both within and outside the municipality, and promote the municipality locally, nationally and internationally; and

d) participate in and foster activities that enhance the economic, social and environmental well-being of the municipality and its residents.

The Role of Staff

The role of staff is outlined in section 227 of the Municipal Act:

227 It is the role of the officers and employees of the municipality:

a) to implement council’s decisions and establish administrative practices and procedures to carry out council’s decisions;

b) to undertake research and provide advice to council on the policies and programs of the municipality; and

c) to carry out other duties required under this or any Act and other duties assigned by the municipality.

Important Dates

The 2026 election will be held on October 26, 2026, at which time the positions of councillor (3), deputy mayor (1) and mayor (1) will be elected to serve for a four year period, ending in November of 2030.

Nomination Period:

Begins: Friday, May 1st

Closes: Wednesday, August 21st @ 2:00 p.m.

Advanced Voting Period

October 19-26, 2026

Voting Day:

Monday, October 26, 2026, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

See a more detailed schedule below.

NOTICE OF NOMINATION FOR OFFICE

Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (s. 32)
2026 MUNICIPAL & SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS
NOTICE TO ALL MUNICIPAL ELECTORS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MARMORA AND LAKE

This notice is for anyone proposing to be a Candidate in the 2026 municipal and school board elections on October 26, 2026. Nominations for the positions listed below must be filed on the prescribed form, available either in person or by your agent, with the Returning Officer. during normal office hours, between May 1st to Thursday, August 20, 2026, and between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026 (Nomination Day).

Please make an appointment with the Returning Officer to file your nomination.

Each proposed candidate must file the prescribed declaration form signed by at least 25 persons (School Board candidates are exempt).

The required filing fee for the Head of Council is $200.00 and all other offices are $100.00.

Candidates must not spend or raise any funds for their election campaign until the registration/nomination form has been filed. Full details on the procedures to be followed may be obtained from the Returning Officer.  


OFFICES FOR WHICH PERSONS MAY BE NOMINATED:       RETURNING OFFICER:

MAYOR (1)                                                                                 Kristen McConnell

DEPUTY MAYOR (1)                                                                  12 Bursthall Street

COUNCILLOR (4)                                                                       Marmora, ON K0K 2M0

ENGLISH PUBLIC SCHOOL TRUSTEE (1)                                613-472-2629, ext. 2232

ENGLISH SEPARATE SCHOOL TRUSTEE (1)                           clerk@marmoraandlake.ca

FRENCH PUBLIC SCHOOL TRUSTEE (1)      www.marmoraandlake.ca

FRENCH SEPARATE SCHOOL TRUSTEE (1)

Nomination Process

A person may be nominated for an office by filing a nomination in the Clerk’s Office, in person or by an agent. (If filing by agent, the agent must present a commissioned Agent Appointment Form.)

Requirements for Nomination

The nomination must be completed in full and filed in person by the candidate, or an agent of the candidate, and include:

  1. Identification for proof of identity (eg: Driver's Licence, Passport, Birth Certificate, etc.)

  2. A completed copy of the Nomination Paper (Form 1)

  3. An Endorsement of Nomination (Form 2) with at least twenty-five (25) signatures Marmora and Lake who are endorsing the nomination (see below)

  4. The filing fee

    • $200 for mayor

    • $100 for all other offices

    • Accepted payment methods include cash, certified cheque, debit or money order.

Endorsement of Nomination

The nomination must be endorsed and signed by at least twenty-five (25) persons:

  • A person endorsing a nomination must be eligible to vote for an office within an election in Marmora and Lake, if a regular election was held on the day that the person endorsed the nomination;

  • A person may endorse more than one nomination;

  • Endorsements must be completed and signed on Form 2 (the version above includes room for up to thirty-two (32) signatures, while the original form only includes room for five (5));

  • Collecting more than 25 endorsements is good practice in the event that any endorsements are completed incorrectly;

  • School Board Trustee candidates do not require endorsements.

You may file your nomination paperwork by appointment only at:

The Municipality of Marmora and Lake
Returning Officer Kristen McConnell
12 Bursthall Street
Marmora, ON K0K 2M0
613-472-2629, ext. 2232
clerk@marmoraandlake.ca

Training Opportunities

FREE Local Candidate Information Sessions

There are FREE workshops being hosted in our area, designed to give prospective candidates a clear and realistic understanding of what public office involves. Learn how municipal government works, the roles and responsibilities of members of Council, and the ethical and legal expectations of elected officials. The sessions will also cover campaign requirements, as well as the time and financial commitments involved in serving in this capacity.

These workshops are intended to help you make an informed decision about whether running for office is the right fit for you, and to help those who choose to run do so with confidence and clarity.

  • Tuesday, May 19, 2026
    Dungannon Recreation Centre
    26596A Highway 62 S, Bancroft
    6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

  • Wednesday, May 20, 2026
    Huntingdon Veterans Community Hall
    11379 Highway 62, Ivanhoe
    6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Association of Municipality of Ontario (AMO)

AMO is offering a series of free workshops for those considering running for municipal office in the October 2026 election:

Campaign Period

Your campaign begins when you file your Nomination Paper with the Municipal Clerk. The earliest you can file is Friday, May 1, 2026. Please see the detailed information on the Nomination Process above.

More information will be added to this section soon.

Where, when and how to vote!

The 2026 Municipal Election Municipality of Marmora and Lake is running a telephone and internet voting election. This gives voters a few options when deciding where to vote:

  1. Vote from home using your landline, smart phone, or computer.

  2. Vote at the Voter Help Centre at the Municipal Office

  3. Vote at the Voting Centre on Voting Day in Council Chambers at the Municipal Office

Vote from Home

Advanced voting begins on Monday, October 19th, and you can vote from home - by telephone or internet - at anytime through 8:00 p.m. on Voting Day, Monday, October 26th.

  • October 19-26

Voter Help Centre

12 Bursthall Street, Marmora, ON, K0K 2M0 (Municipal Office/Downstairs)

If you feel uncertain about voting by telephone or internet, the Municipal Office is providing a Voter Help Centre during the advanced voting period, during normal business hours.

  • October 19-23: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Voting Centre

12 Bursthall Street, Marmora, ON, K0K 2M0 (Council Chambers/Upstairs)

Council Chambers will be set up on Election Day as an official voting centre, with staff available to provide help, if requested, using the internet voting system.

  • Monday, October 26: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.