Candidates

General information on time commitment can be found as referenced on page 13 of the Candidate Information Package (in the drop down below) which states the following:

"The time commitment can be significant. In addition to two council meetings per month, this may include sitting on committees, public meetings and events to take part in, as well as considerable time spent talking with and responding to the residents.

The amount of time required to prepare for a Council or committee meeting can be several hours per week due to the number of lengthy reports to be read in advance. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor also sit on Grey County Council which requires additional meetings and research time.

The Grey Highlands Council current time commitment consists of (but is not limited to):

• Council Meetings held the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 10 am;
• Committee of the Whole Meetings held the 4th Wednesday of each month at 9am or as required;
• Budget Meetings & Workshops as required (generally in the fall);
• Statutory Public Planning Hearings held the 4th Monday of each month at 5 pm;
• Attendance at extra Committees that a Councillor can be expected to be appointed to by Council 
• Telephone calls and contact with constituents; and  
• Reading agendas and research time (draft agendas generally provided to Council 1 week in advance of the Council meeting).

The above list is required for all members of Council, however individual members may be appointed to other committees and organizations on behalf of Council. In addition to what is included in the Candidate Information Package, information is provided below based on appointments as of January 2026. 

The number of Grey Highlands appointments varies based on interest and the number of Committees that Council deems required. Appointments are divvied up among the Council members.

The current list of Committees and Boards includes:

• Joint Detachment Police Services Board 
• Grey Highlands Public Library Board
• Committee of Adjustment 
• Museum Board 
• Heritage Grey Highlands Committee 
• Community Development Advisory Group 
• Joint Waste Disposal Site Committee 
• Seniors Advisory Committee 
• Financial Assistance Program Committee 
• Community Safety Committee
• Lake management Task Force

Council also appoints members to external organizations. If appointed to an external organization, meeting dates, times and locations will vary. The current list of external appointments by different members of Council include:

• Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority
• Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
• Grey Sauble Conservation Authority
• Joint Community Safety and Well Being Program Committee
• Grey Highlands Chamber of Commerce
• Grey County Farm Safety Council
• Grey Highlands Community Endowment Fund Committee (Community Foundation Grey Bruce)
• Kimberley Forest Steering Committee
• South East Grey Community Health Centre (if approved)
• Multi-Municipal Wind Turbine Working Group
• Local Immigration Partnership

Running for Municipal Council

Are you Eligible to be a candidate?

• You must be a Canadian citizen
• You must be 18 or older
• You must qualify as a resident or non-resident elector (see voters page for eligibility)

Who is not eligible?
The following people are disqualified from being elected to municipal office:

• any person who is not eligible to vote in the municipality 
• an employee of a municipality who has not taken an unpaid leave of absence and resigned (see above)
• a judge of any court
• an MP, an MPP or a senator
• an inmate serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution

Required Forms and Fees

You must file Form 1 (nomination paper) and Form 2 (25 endorsements) when you submit your nomination along with the appropriate fee.

Fees as per O.Reg 101/97: 

• $100 nomination fee; or
• $200 nomination fee for head of Council 
• Payable by cash, cheque or debit

Running for School Board Trustee

In order to run for a trustee position on a school board you must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the board, and you must be eligible to vote in a school board election. 

You must file Form 1 (nomination paper) and pay the appropriate fee when you submit your paperwork. 

Nominations for specific schoolboards can be filed at the following Municipal Offices:

• English Public (Bluewater District School Board) - Grey Highlands
• English Separate (Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board)- Hanover
• French Public (Conseil Scolaire Viamonde) - Barrie
• French Separate (Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence) - Sarnia

Running for Election as a School Board Trustee Information Package

When and how is nomination done?

Candidates who intend to run in the 2026 Municipal Election must file all of the necessary documentation along with the required filing fee during the nomination period, which runs from Monday, May 1, 2026 through Friday August 21, 2026 at 2 pm. 

Nomination Day on Friday, August 21, 2026 is the last day to file a nomination, by 2:00 pm sharp. 

Filing must be done in person or by an agent (not by mail, email or fax) with the Clerk at 206 Toronto Street South Markdale, ON during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).  

Nomination forms will soon be available on our website.

Please ensure you bring your completed Form 1 and Form 2 when you attend the office to file your nomination. When filing, we will also request that the following forms are filled out:

• Declaration of Qualifications - to be signed in front a commissioner
• Candidate's declaration - proper use of voters list
• Consent to release personal information 

What positions can I run for?

The 2026 Municipal Election is for the following positions: 

• 1 Mayor 
• 1 Deputy Mayor 
• 5 Councillors 
• 1 Trustee for the English Language Public District School Board
• 1 Trustee for the English Language Catholic District School Board
• 1 Trustee for the French Language Public School Board
• 1 Trustee for the ​French Language Catholic School Board

Can I nominate myself?

Yes, you may nominate yourself. Even if another person recommends you for the position, you must complete all the paperwork and be present to file your nomination or file through an agent. You must also obtain and submit the signatures of 25 people eligible to vote in the 2026 Grey Highlands elections who support your nomination.

What if I change my mind after I have submitted my nomination paperwork and want to withdraw or switch to a different position?

A person may withdraw his or her nomination by filing a written Withdrawal of Nomination in the Clerk's Office before Friday August 21, 2026 at 2 pm. 

If you wish to run for a different position, you must re-file your nomination paperwork in the Clerk's Office before Friday August 21, 2026 at 2 pm, which will trigger your original nomination to be withdrawn. ​You do not need to submit different signatures from the ones you submitted with your initial nomination.

Can I use the Grey Highlands logo or photos from a Municipal website or social media site on my campaign materials?

No, candidates may not use the municipal logo or other corporate images on their own websites (including social media), campaign literature, lawn signs, buttons, clothing or other campaign material. 

Candidates MAY re-tweet/share a municipal social media post or share a link from the Grey Highlands websites on their own websites including social media. Candidates wishing to share information/pages from the Grey Highlands official websites must do so by providing links rather than screen captures.

Can I campaign at public events?

You may not campaign at events that are hosted by the Municipality. These include but are not limited to  public information sessions or open houses.  Wearing a campaign T-shirt, hat, button or other apparel is considered campaigning. You may campaign at private events hosted on rented public property with the permission of the event organizer. 

Can I have a campaign office?

You may set up a campaign office on private property. Please be aware that you may not put up signs on the exterior or in the windows of the office that promote your candidacy prior to the date when signs are permitted. Prior to that date, signs may state your name only.

When can I begin campaigning?

Your campaign period begins as soon as you file your nomination papers with the Municipal Office. After your paperwork is filed you can commence your campaign, however you cannot place your election signs in the Municipality until after Nomination Day on August 21th as per the Election Sign By-law.  

Municipality of Grey Highlands Policies:

Election Sign By-law

Use of Corporate Resources Policy A-09-C-04 

Province of Ontario Legislation:

Municipal Elections Act

Municipal Act

Helpful Guides:

Lead Where You Live Guide

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - Candidates Guide 

(2022 guide linked, 2026 guide not available to date)

AMO - Leading with Respect Handguide