Elections

Municipal and school board elections are held every four years on the fourth Monday in October with the next election scheduled to take place on Monday, October 26, 2026. During a municipal election, electors can vote for:

• Mayor (1)
• Deputy Mayor (1)
• Councillors (7)
• School Board Trustee (1)

Below are the list of certified candidates for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election. To view the full nomination and endorsements to the nomination, please visit the Town Hall at 97 Hurontario Street, Collingwood.

Information contained on this website has been consented to by the candidate in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. In the absence of such information (address, telephone number, etc.), the candidate has either not consented to its release or has not yet completed the required Candidate Information Consent Form.

In accordance with the Town of Collingwood Policy regarding the Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes, Town of Collingwood e-mail and voice mail accounts are to be utilized exclusively for Town of Collingwood business. Election campaign related inquires should be directed to the appropriate campaign office.

If you access contact information on the listing above, you will be accessing a candidate's information and will be leaving the Town of Collingwood's website. The email/website/social media that you are about to view is in no way affiliated, maintained or monitored by the Town of Collingwood. The link is meant for convenience only and does not imply endorsement or approval by the Town of Collingwood.

Information contained on this website has been consented to by the candidate in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. In the absence of such information (address, telephone number, etc.), the candidate has either not consented to its release or has not yet completed the required Candidate Information Consent Form.

In accordance with the Town of Collingwood Policy regarding the Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes, Town of Collingwood e-mail and voice mail accounts are to be utilized exclusively for Town of Collingwood business. Election campaign related inquires should be directed to the appropriate campaign office.

If you access contact information on the listing above, you will be accessing a candidate's information and will be leaving the Town of Collingwood's website. The email/website/social media that you are about to view is in no way affiliated, maintained or monitored by the Town of Collingwood. The link is meant for convenience only and does not imply endorsement or approval by the Town of Collingwood.

Mayor Candidate Biographies

Deputy Mayor Candidate Biographies

Councillor Candidate Biographies

School Board Trustee Candidate Biographies

An all candidates meeting is a public, usually non-partisan event held during an election campaign where candidates are invited to address voters, answer questions, and explain their positions on issues. Its main purpose is to:

• Inform voters about who is running and what each candidate stands for.
• Provide equal access to candidates in one shared forum.
• Allow voters to compare responses to common questions or local issues.
• Encourage civic participation and public dialogue.
• Helps residents make an informed decision before voting.

The Municipality does not organize, host, or oversee all-candidates meetings in order to maintain neutrality and impartiality throughout the election process. All-candidates meetings are typically organized by independent community groups, service clubs, business organizations, or media outlets.
If you or someone you know is hosting an all candidates meeting and would like it to be listed on this webpage, please provide your information to election@collingwood.ca or request it be added to the community events calendar. 

Register to Vote

Are you on the voter's list? Online registration is now closed. Come visit us at the Collingwood Public Library before 8:00 p.m. to register. 

Please note, valid identification is required when registering to vote. The identification provided must include both your name and Collingwood address.

Removing a name from the voters’ list

The voter's list is a public document.

• You can request to have your name removed from the voter's list by contacting the clerk.
• If your name is removed, you will not be able to vote.
• You may also request the removal of someone who is deceased (note: you cannot request the removal of another person for any other reason).

How to Vote

Voting in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election can be completed with a paper ballot in person or a digital ballot online. Information regarding voting methods, dates, and times is included in this section and the short video below.

Internet Voting: Advance Polls

Beat the lines and cast your ballot from the comfort of your home using a computer or smartphone connected to the internet. Online voting is available: 

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

Paper Ballot Voting: Advance Polls

Prefer to cast your ballot in a more traditional setting? In person paper ballot voting is offered at the Collingwood Public Library, 55 Ste. Marie Street, Collingwood, on the following dates and times:

• Advance Poll Thursday, October 15, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Advance Poll Thursday, October 22, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Advance Poll Sunday, October 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Election Day: October 26, 2026

• Internet voting will remain available until the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on October 26, 2026.
• In-person paper ballot voting is available on Election Day, October 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Collingwood Public Library, 55 Ste. Marie Street, Collingwood.

Roving Vote Opportunities 

Arrangements are in place to enable on-site voting at all long-term care and retirement homes in Collingwood, in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act. 

Are you unable to physically attend a polling location or lack the means to vote online? Contact the Town at 705-445-1030 ext. 3800 to request an in-home appointment. Appointments are available between October 8 - 25, 2026, and are not available on Election Day, October 26, 2026.

Voter Information Letters

Voter Information Letters are sent to all eligible electors who are listed on the Voters List. These were mailed September 28 - October 3, 2026.

You are eligible to vote in the Municipal and School Board Election, if you:

• Are a Canadian citizen
• Are aged 18 years or older
• You or your spouse own or rent property in Collingwood

Three ways to qualify to vote in a municipality:

• As a resident elector: you live in the municipality. You may own, rent, live in shared accommodation where you do not pay rent or live in the municipality but do not have a fixed address.
• As a non-resident elector: you own or rent property in a municipality, but live elsewhere. You can only be a resident elector in one municipality but you may be a non-resident elector in other municipalities where you own or rent property.
• As the spouse of a non-resident elector: your spouse owns or rents property in a municipality other than where you live.
  • Please note: To qualify as a non-resident elector, you must personally own or rent the property; properties owned by a business or held in trust do not qualify. 

For more information about eligibility to vote, please see the 2026 voter's guide. If you are uncertain with whether you qualify, email election@collingwood.ca.

Explore this section:

• Students
• Corporations and Commercial Properties
• Voting in more than one municipality
• School boards elections
• Voting in more than one school board election
• Choosing a school board
• Eligibility for different school boards

Students

There is a special rule for students who may be living away from home while they attend school.

Students may be eligible to vote in both:

• Their home municipality
• The municipality where they attend school

Corporations and Commercial Property

Corporations are prohibited from voting in the election. If you own or lease property as a business in Collingwood, the ownership or lease of the property must be in a persons name and not that of the business in order to be eligible to vote. 

Voting in more than one municipality

If you qualify to vote in more than one municipality, you can vote in each of those municipal elections. 

Please note: If two or more of those municipalities are lower-tier, in the same region, and elect representatives to a regional council, you can only vote for that regional council office once.

School board elections

School board elections take place at the same time as municipal elections. You may vote in a school board election if you: 

• Are a Canadian citizen
• Are aged 18 years or older
• Qualify to vote for that particular school board

You may only vote once per school board election.

School boards may cover multiple municipalities. If you are a resident elector, you are eligible to vote for the school trustee(s) representing your geographic area.

Voting in more than one school board election

You may be eligible to vote in more than one school board election if:

• You (or your spouse) own or rent property in another municipality or unorganized area, and the trustee there represents another school board
• The property owned or being rented is residential
• The property owned or being rented is not commercial

Choosing a school board

There are four types of school boards in Ontario:

• English-language public school board
• English-language separate school board
• French-language public school board
• French-language separate school board

You are automatically eligible to vote for the English-language public school board unless you change your school support. To learn more about school support or how to change your school support, please contact the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation at mpac.ca/schoolsupport.

Eligibility for different school boards

To vote for a different type of school board, you must meet specific requirements:

•  English-language separate school board:
  • You must be Roman Catholic
  • You or your spouse must be registered as a supporter
• French-language public school board:
  • You must be a French-language rights holder*
  • You or your spouse must be a registered supporter
• French-language separate school board you must meet all of the following requirements:
  • You must be Roman Catholic
  • You must be a French-language rights holder*
  • You or your spouse must be registered supporter

A French-language rights holder is defined in the Education Act, and refers to the right of citizens whose first language is French to receive educational instruction in French. Learn more about French-language education through the Ministry of Education.

To be added to the voter's list, your identification must include both your name and your Collingwood address.

Government-issued identification

• Ontario driver’s license 
• Ontario Health Card (photo card) along with documentation that contains your Collingwood address.
• Ontario Photo Card
• Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion)

Financial and property documents

• Mortgage statement, lease, or rental agreement relating to property in Ontario
• Property tax assessment
• Insurance policy or statement
• Loan or financial agreement with a financial institution
• Credit card or bank statement, or RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP, or T5 statement
• Cancelled personalized cheque

Government benefits and tax documents

• Income tax assessment notice
• Child tax benefit statement
• Statement of employment insurance benefits paid - T4E
• Statement of old age security - T4A (OAS)
• Canada Pension Plan benefits statement - T4A(P)
• Canada Pension Plan statement of contributions
• Ontario Works direct deposit statement 
• Ontario Disability Support Program direct deposit statement 
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board statement of benefits - T5007

Other acceptable documents

• Document issued or certified by a court in Ontario
• Any other document issued by the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, a municipality in Ontario, or an agency of these governments
• Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)
• Utility bill (hydro, water, gas, telephone, or cable) or a bill from a public utilities commission
• Cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer

Institutional or specialized documents

• CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities
• Hospital card or record
• Document showing campus residence, issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution
• Transcript or report card from a post-secondary institution
• Document showing residence at a long-term care home under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, issued by the Administrator for the home

What is a third-party advertiser?

A third-party advertiser is an individual or organization (not a candidate) that supports, promotes, or opposes:

• A candidate
• A "yes" or "no" answer on the ballot

They must: 

• Register with the municipal Clerk before spending money on third-party advertisements during the election
• Submit a financial statement 
• Operate independently from candidates

For more information on third-party advertising, please see the Third-Party Advertisers’ Guide.

Who can make contributions?

• Individuals who are residents of Ontario
• Corporations carrying on business in Ontario and trade unions that hold bargaining rights for employees in Ontario may contribute only to third-party advertisers, not candidates
• Groups such as neighbourhood associations, clubs, or professional associations are not eligible to make financial contributions; however, members may contribute individually

What are the contribution limits?

• Up to $1,200 per candidate (up to $2,500 to a mayoral candidate in the City of Toronto)
• Up to $1,200 per third-party advertiser
• Up to $5,000 total to candidates running for the same offices or thrid party advertisers in the same municipality

Please note: If you want to contribute to a candidate or third-party advertiser, you should ensure you keep track of your donations to ensure that you don’t end up giving more than is permitted, as these amounts include the value of any goods or services donated to the campaign. For example, if you buy a ticket to a candidate’s or a third-party advertiser’s fundraiser, the cost of the ticket is a contribution.

What are other rules regarding contributions?

• Contributions must come directly from the contributor
• You cannot pool contributions from others and then forward that money to a candidate’s campaign or a third-party advertiser
• If a contribution is made from a joint account, it must be clear which person is making the contribution.
• Contributions over $25 cannot be made in cash
• Contributions over $25 must be made by cheque, money order, or another traceable method
• Contributions over $100 are recorded recorded in a public financial statement (includes name and address)

Are contributions tax deductible?

• Contributions to municipal council, school board candidates, and third-party advertisers are not tax deductible
• Municipalities may offer rebate programs for contributions to candidates 
• Rebate programs do not apply to contributions to third-party advertisers

For more information, contact your municipal Clerk. For questions related to the Town of Collingwood, email clerk@collingwood.ca.

What happens to unused campaign funds?

• Surplus campaign funds must be turned over to the municipality
• Contributions cannot be returned to contributors

How are contributions reviewed?

• Financial statements are reviewed by the municipal Clerk to ensure compliance with contribution rules
• Contributions to candidates and/or third-party advertisers that exceed limits may be reported to a compliance audit committee
• The committee will review the matter and determine whether legal action should be taken

What happens if I have concerns about an election?

• If you believe an election was not valid, you may apply to the Superior Court of Justice within 90 days of Election Day
• Any person can begin court proceedings against a person, trade union, or corporation who they believe committed an offence in relation to an election
• Only the court can determine whether the person, trade union, or corporation commited an offence, and only the court may determine the penalty

What are election offences?

It is an offence to do any of the following:

• Vote if you are not an eligible elector
• Vote more times than you are permitted
• Vote where you are not entitled to vote
• Influence a person who is not an eligible elector to vote
• Vote after you have appointed a proxy
• Vote as a proxy if the person who appointed you cancelled the appointment, became ineligible to vote, or died
• Give, take, or tamper with ballots without authorization
• Handle a ballot box or ballots if you are not authorized to do so
• Bribe or accept a bribe related to voting or candidacy
• Not vote at all, or give someone else money so that they can bribe another individual

It is also an offence to:

• Break campaign finance rules
• Contribute when not eligible
• Exceed contribution limits
• Contribute money that is not your own

What are the penalties?

If convicted of committing an offence, penalties may include:

• A fine of up to $25,000 (corporations or trade unions may face fines of up to $50,000)
• Ineligibility to vote or run in the next election
• Up to six months in prison

Penalties are determined by the court under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

The display of election signs in the Town of Collingwood are governed by three By-laws with the main one being Election Sign By-law No. 2018-024.

Deposit and Permit Stickers

A deposit of $100 is required by the Candidate or Third-Party Advertiser to display election signs in Collingwood. This deposit is payable at the Town Hall, 97 Hurontario Street, Collingwood during regular business hours (Monday to Friday form 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). 

Permit stickers are required to be placed on all signs posted on public property and are provided at the time the sign deposit is paid. 

Posting election signs on public property.

Signs on public property can be placed within the boulevards in commercial (red parcels) and industrial (grey parcels) zones. To view a map of the zones visit https://cwood.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f678ea7b8bf4154b5af255d7ed1533a . Open the Layer List and select Property Zoning. 

Please refer to the Election Sign By-law No. 2018-024 for size and set-back requirements for signs posted within the Town of Collingwood. 

When posting election signs on a boulevard situated on a Provincial Highway (Highway 26) or a County Road (Grey Road 19 and 21, Poplar Side Road), you are also required to abide by the following: 

• County of Simcoe Sign By-law
• Ministry of Transportation Corridor Signing Policy 

Posting election signs on private property.

To post an election sign on private property, permission from the property owner is required. Please review the  Election Sign By-law No. 2018-024 for size and set-back requirements.

School Board Trustee Candidate

If a candidate is running for school board trustee, they are required to abide by the election sign by-laws of each of the municipalities that they wish to advertise in. For example, if you are running for the Simcoe County District School Board (English Public School Board Trustee), you would be required to abide by the Town of Collingwood Election Sign By-law No. 2018-024 and the Town of Wasaga Beach Election Sign By-law No. 2018-52.

Identification requirements on advertising.

In order for a Third-Party Advertiser to display signs in the Town of Collingwood, they must first register with the municipality. Registrations are accepted from May 1 to October 23. To register, contact Clerk Services at clerk@collingwood.ca or call us at 705-445-1030.

A registered third-party advertiser must provide the following information on all of its ads, signs and other materials:

• the legal name of the registered third-party advertiser (if the third-party advertiser is a corporation or trade union, the name of the corporation or trade union must appear, not the name of the representative who filed the registration)
• the municipality where the third-party advertiser is registered
• a telephone number, mailing address or email address where the third-party advertiser can be contacted

A registered individual cannot act on behalf of a group or organization that is not eligible to register as a third-party advertiser. For example, if Chris Smith is the president of a business improvement association (BIA), the signs and materials must identify Chris Smith as the person responsible for the advertising, not the BIA.

If ads are going to be broadcast or published (for example, on a radio station or in a newspaper), the ad must contain the information required above, and the third-party advertiser must also provide the broadcaster or publisher with the following:

• the name of the registered third-party advertiser
• the name, business address and telephone number of the individual who deals with the broadcaster or publisher under the direction of the registered third-party advertiser
• the municipality where the third-party advertiser is registered

Please refer to the  Election Sign By-law No. 2018-024 for size and set-back requirements for signs posted within the Town of Collingwood. 

Want to learn more about Third-Party Advertising? Visit: 2026 Third-Party Adverting Guide published by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. 

For information about campaigning and candidate finances, review the  2026 Candidates' Guide provided by the Province of Ontario and the Municipal Elections Act. 

When does my campaign start and end?

Your campaign period begins on the day you file your nomination papers with the Clerk. You may only accept contributions or incur campaign expenses during your campaign period.

In most cases, your campaign will end on December 31, 2026. 

Your campaign may end earlier if:

• You withdraw your nomination (your campaign ends on the date you notify the Clerk in writing)
• Your nomination is not certified and your name does not appear on the ballot (your campaign ends on nomination day - August 21, 2026)
• You end your campaign early after voting day because you know you will not have any further financial activity

If you extended your campaign to pay down a deficit, your campaign period may continue until June 30, 2027, or until you notify the Clerk in writing that you are ending your campaign and are not accepting any more contributions

All candidates must file a financial statement. This includes:

• Candidates who withdrew their nomination
• Candidates who were not certified and did not appear on the ballot
• Candidates who were acclaimed

Every candidate must fill out and file the Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate (Form 4) to report their campaign's money and spending to the municipal clerk.

• Your completed financial statement must be submitted to the clerk by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 2027.
• Supplementary financial statements must be submitted to the clerk by 2 p.m. on the last Friday in September (September 24, 2027).

For information about campaigning and candidate finances, review the  2026 Candidates' Guide provided by the Province of Ontario and the Municipal Elections Act. 

If your campaign expenses or the contributions you received total more than $10,000, you must have an auditor review your financial statement and provide a report.

The auditor’s report must be prepared by an auditor licensed under the Public Accounting Act, 2004. Before hiring an auditor, you should ensure that they are properly qualified.

Automatic penalties

There are three contraventions of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 where penalties apply automatically:

• If you fail to file a financial statement by the end of the 30-day grace period or fail to apply to the court before the prescribed deadline for an extension by the filing deadline
• If your financial statement shows that you exceeded your spending limit
• If you fail to turn over your surplus to the Clerk when you file your financial statement

The penalty is that you forfeit your office (if you won the election) and you become ineligible to run or be appointed to fill a vacancy until after the 2030 election.

Compliance audits

Each municipality and school board must appoint a compliance audit committee.

If an eligible elector believes that you have contravened the election finance rules, they may apply for a compliance audit of your campaign finances. The application must be in writing and must set out the reasons why they believe you contravened the rules.

An application for a compliance audit must be submitted to the municipal clerk who conducted the election within 90 days of the deadline to file the campaign financial statement.

The compliance audit committee will consider the application and decide whether to grant or reject the application. You may appeal the committee’s decision to the Superior Court of Justice within 15 days after the decision is made.

If the committee grants the application:

• It will appoint an auditor to conduct a compliance audit of your campaign finances
• The auditor is entitled to have access to all of the financial records related to your campaign
• The auditor will produce a report, which you are entitled to receive

The compliance audit committee will meet to consider the auditor’s report. If the report concludes that there is an apparent contravention of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 the committee will decide whether to commence legal action.

Please note: The compliance audit committee does not have any authority to set penalties. Only the court can decide if you contravened the Act and, if so, which penalties should apply.

Penalties

If you are convicted of an offence, you may be subject to the following penalties:

• A fine of up to $25,000
• Ineligibility to vote or run in the next general election
• Up to six months in prison
• Forfeiture of your elected office, if the judge finds that you committed the offence knowingly

Please note: If you are convicted of exceeding the spending limit, you may also be fined the amount by which you exceeded the limit.

AMO Election Resources: Supporting your Run for Municipal Office in 2026
Various offerings available

Candidate & Third Party Information Session, held May 28, 2026
A recap of the information session covering the Municipal Elections Act, campaign rules, and third party advertising. (Offered by the Town of Collingwood, Township of Clearview, and Town of Wasaga Beach; delivered by MMAH)
*this session is recorded: MMAH Candidate Session 2026-05-28

Clerks on Call - April 21, 2026
This free public workshop offers a clear, down-to-earth look at what it means to serve on Council. (Offered by The Town of Collingwood and Township of Clearview).

Thinking of running for English School Board Trustee? The Town of Collingwood is accepting nominations for the jurisdiction of Collingwood and Wasaga Beach for the Simcoe County District School Board. 

Please visit the Simcoe District County School Board website for details. 

View the Information for Candidates tab on the Town of Collingwood Election Website for more details on how to submit a nomination.

Thinking of running for English Separate Board Trustee? The Township of Springwater is accepting nominations for the jurisdiction of Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview and Springwater for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. 

Please visit the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board website for details.

Thinking of running for French Public School Board Trustee? The City of Barrie is accepting nominations for Conseil Scolaire Viamonde. 

Please visit the Association des conseils scolaries des ecoles publiques de L'Ontario for details.

Thinking of running for French Separate School Board Trustee? The City of Barrie is accepting nominations for Conseil Scolaire Catholique Monavenir.

Please visit the Association franco-ontarienne des conseils scolaires catholiques for details.

There are rules for third-party advertising in Ontario’s municipal council and school board elections.

A third-party advertisement is an ad that supports, promotes, or opposes:

• A candidate
• A "yes" or "no" answer on the ballot

The meaning of “third-party” in this context means a person or entity who is not a candidate. Eligible individuals, corporations and trade unions can register to be third-party advertisers. Third-party advertising is separate from any candidate’s campaign and must be done independently from a candidate.

Third-party advertisers who want to spend money on advertisements during the election must register with the municipal clerk and must file a financial statement.

For more information about third-party advertising rules, including eligibility, spending limits and enforcement, see the Third-party advertisers’ guide.

Registrations will be accepted by the Clerk, or designate, on the prescribed Form (Form 7), between the 1st day for filing nominations, Friday, May 1, 2026 and 4:30 pm on the Friday before Voting Day, October 23, 2026. Third party advertisers must be registered in each municipality where they want to advertise. To register, please book an appointment by contacting clerk@collingwood.ca .

The notice must be filed in the prescribed Form and must include a declaration of qualification signed by the individual or by a representative of the corporation or trade union, as the case may be. A notice of registration may be filed in person or by an agent.

If a registration is submitted by an agent who is acting on behalf of an individual who wishes to register as a Third Party Advertiser, they must provide the Clerk with a signed and dated letter from the Third Party registrant at the time of registration which authorizes the agent to register on their behalf. The letter must be commissioned or notarized by a person authorized under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act or Notaries Act.

Until the Clerk certifies your registration, a Third Party Advertiser may not incur campaign expenses, accept contributions or begin advertising.

In 2022, Collingwood hit a voter turnout of 39.67% at the close of polls on October 24!

Final Summary of Election Results
Town of Collingwood
Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (s.55(4)), the Act

I hereby certify that during the municipal election held on Monday, October 24, 2022 in accordance with Section 53(1) of the Act for the offices listed below, the certified candidates received the votes that follow their respective names: