Barrie, ON – Nominations for the 2026 Municipal Election open May 1 at 8:30 a.m. To help prospective candidates and third-party advertisers prepare, the City of Barrie is hosting two information sessions to explain the nomination and registration process.
Residents interested in running in the 2026 Municipal Election for mayor, councillor, or school board trustee—as well as those considering registering as a third-party advertiser—are invited to attend the following information sessions:
- Session 1: Hosted by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) on Monday, May 11, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the City Council Chambers (second floor of City Hall, 70 Collier Street). Attend in person or join virtually via Zoom.
- Session 2: Hosted by the City of Barrie’s Election Team on Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the Council Chambers. Attend in person or join virtually.
Each session will cover different aspects of running for municipal office, providing valuable insight into the role of a Council member and helping prospective candidates determine whether serving our community in this capacity is the right fit.
Starting May 1, nominations will be accepted for the following offices, and registrations will be accepted for third-party advertisers:
- Mayor
- Councillor
- Members- Simcoe County District School Board
- Members – Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board
- Member - Conseil scolaire Viamonde
- Member - Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir
The nomination period for the 2026 Municipal Election closes at 2 p.m. on August 21.
Those interested in attending a Candidate Information Session, or learning more about the election process, are encouraged to visit barrie.ca/election. A candidate list will also be available after the first nomination is received and will be updated as additional nominations are submitted.