Resources for Candidates

Who can run for office?

A person may be nominated for municipal office in the 2026 municipal election if, on the day the person is nominated, they are:

a Canadian citizen
at least 18 years old
a resident in the City of Woodstock
a non-resident of Woodstock and you or your spouse own or rent property in the City; and
are not disqualified by the Municipal Act or any other Act from holding such office

To run for any of the four school boards in the City of Woodstock you must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the board and you must be eligible to vote in a school board election. On the day you file your nomination, a person must be:

a Canadian citizen
at least 18 years old; and
Must meet any other qualifications to vote for the school board (for example, being a Roman Catholic or holding French language rights).

Elected Offices

The Nomination Period for candidates will be open from May 1, 2026 to 2:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026.

The City of Woodstock will elect candidates for the following offices for the period commencing November 15, 2026, and ending November 14, 2030:

Mayor	One (1) to be elected by all electors in the City of Woodstock.
Deputy Mayor-County Councillor	One (1) to be elected by all electors in the City of Woodstock.
City-County Councillor	One (1) to be elected by all electors in the City of Woodstock.
City Councillors	Four (4) to be elected by all electors in the City of Woodstock.
Thames Valley District School Board (English Public) Trustees	Two (2) to be elected by English public school electors in Oxford County - The City of Woodstock is responsible for accepting nominations.
London District Catholic School Board (English Separate) Trustee	One (1) to be elected by English separate school electors in Oxford County - The City of Woodstock is responsible for accepting nominations.
Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence (French Separate) Trustee	One (1) to be elected by French language separate school electors to represent the Counties of Oxford, Elgin, and Middlesex. The City of Woodstock is responsible for accepting nominations. Candidates can file a nomination with their local Clerk if their home municipality is more than 100 km from Woodstock. Alternatively, candidates who live outside of Oxford County may submit their nomination electronically. Contact election@cityofwoodstock.ca for more details.
Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (French Public) Trustee	One (1) to be elected by French language public school electors to represent the Counties of Oxford, Elgin, Lambton, Haldimand and Norfolk and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. The Clerk of the City of Sarnia is responsible for conducting the election for this position. However, nominations for this position will be accepted by the Clerk (or their designate) of the City of Woodstock and forwarded to the Clerk of Sarnia.

Becoming a Candidate

Candidate Information and Nomination Package

The 2026 Candidate Information and Nomination Package is now available. This package includes the required information and nomination forms for municipal council and school board trustee candidates. All candidates are required to review the Information and Nomination Package. Printed copies will be available in the Clerk's Office, Main Floor - City Hall, 500 Dundas Street.

Filing your Nomination

Candidates are strongly encouraged to make an appointment to file a nomination to avoid any delays and have eligible nominations certified as quickly as possible. Appointments can be made by calling 519-539-1291 or emailing election@cityofwoodstock.ca.

Candidates must bring the following to their scheduled appointment:

Photo Identification showing proof of qualifying City of Woodstock address (e.g. Driver's Licence, Ontario Health Card (photo card), Ontario Photo Card, etc.)
Filing Fee ($200 for Mayor and $100 for all other offices - payable by cash, certified cheque or money order made payable to the City of Woodstock, or debit. The City does not accept credit card payments).
Completed Nomination Paper - Form 1
Completed Endorsement of Nomination - Form 2 (25 signatures at minimum required)

Candidate Information Meeting

On March 26, 2026, the City of Woodstock, in partnership with Oxford County municipalities, hosted a Candidate Information Meeting in preparation for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election. The session provided prospective and returning candidates, as well as the public, with information on council roles, eligibility, nominations, and campaign finance rules. Presentations were delivered by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and municipal consultant Nigel Bellchamber, with both in-person and virtual participation available. Copies of the presentation material are available below:

Watch the Candidate Information Meeting.

Additional Resources

For those considering running for office, there are several associations and organizations that develop helpful resources. Many of these resources are still being updated for the 2026 election.

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Guides

Federation of Canadian Municipalities - Municipal Elections in Canada: A Guide for Women Candidates

Ontario Municipal Councillor’s Guide

Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO)

The City of Woodstock does not guarantee the accuracy of information on external websites.

AMO Municipal Election information, guides, and resources

When You Believe, They Believe

We All Win - Diversity on Council

Healthy Democracy Project: Ready, Set, Run!

Candidate Workshops - AMO offers a number of online workshops for candidates and potential candidates

Relevant Policies and Legislation

GA028 - Rules for the Use of Municipal Resources During the Election Period