2026 Election Information for Candidates

Subject to any acclamations and the final review of School Board Trustee allocations, candidates for the following offices will appear on the 2026 ballot:

• Mayor
• Councillor
• Members – Simcoe County District School Board
• Members – Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board
• Member – Conseil scolaire Viamonde
• Member – Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir

Notice of Nomination for Office

A candidate list will be published once the first nomination is submitted. The list will be updated regularly as new nominations are received. The nomination period opens on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 8:30am.

Candidate Eligibility

To run for municipal Council, candidates must be:

• A Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age
• A resident or non‑resident elector — someone who does not reside in Barrie but either rents or owns property in the municipality where the nomination is filed
• Eligible to hold office as of the date the nomination is filed

To run to be a school board trustee, candidates must be:

• A Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age
• A resident of the municipality where the nomination is filed 
• Eligible to hold office as of the date the nomination is filed

For further guidance, please consult the Ontario municipal councillor’s guide.

Serving on City Council or a School Board

Serving on Council offers an important opportunity to influence the direction of your community. It also demands careful judgment, a strong understanding of local issues, and a commitment to responsible decision‑making. Council Members regularly engage with complex matters, balance a range of viewpoints, and address sensitive topics in service of the public good.

Serving as a school board trustee means taking on the role of an elected community representative who helps guide the priorities and policies of the local school board. Trustees oversee the board’s budget, set strategic direction, and make decisions that support student learning and well‑being. They bring community perspectives to the board table, ensure the school system responds to local needs, and hold the board accountable to the public it serves.

We encourage you to review the resources below as you explore the possibility of running for Council or School Board:

• The Ontario municipal councillor’s guide (ontario.ca)
• School board trustee elections (ontario.ca)
• Municipal elections (amo.on.ca)

New Ward Boundaries

In 2025, the City of Barrie underwent a comprehensive review of its ward boundaries. The new ward boundaries will be used for the upcoming Municipal Election and will take effect with the new term of Council. Candidates are encouraged to review the updated ward map, as ward boundary adjustments may affect the communities you intend to represent and the local needs you will be addressing.

Filing Your Nomination

Nominations open on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 8:30am and close on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 2pm.

Please review the 2026 candidates’ guide. To run for Council or School Board Trustee in the 2026 Municipal Election, the following forms in the guide must be completed before submission: 

• a nomination form (Form 1)
• completed endorsement of nomination forms (Form 2)

To file your nomination, candidates are required to attend in person at the Legislative Services Branch, 1^st Floor of City Hall, 70 Collier Street, Barrie. Candidates can begin filing their nomination on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 8:30am.

Once a nomination is filed, candidate names will be posted. You cannot begin campaigning until your nomination papers have been officially filed.

2026 Municipal Election Information Sessions

If you are thinking about running in the 2026 Municipal Election for mayor, councillor or school board trustee, we encourage you to attend both of the below information sessions. Each session will give you important information about the role and what you can expect if you decide to run.

• Monday, May 11, 2026, 6–8pm: Information Session 1, hosted by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• Thursday, May 28, 2026, 6–8pm: Information Session 2, hosted by the City of Barrie

Attending both sessions will help you understand what serving on Council involves and support you in deciding whether running is the right choice for you. The Election Team, and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing are both available to answer questions and provide clarification.

Key Dates