If you're considering becoming a candidate in the 2026 municipal election, please be aware of the rules under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996:

• Nomination papers can be filed starting May 1, 2026.
• Campaign expenses may not be incurred until nomination papers are officially filed. This includes costs such as website development, domain registration, promotional materials, and advertising.
• Any expenses incurred prior to nomination cannot be included in your financial statements and will not be reimbursed.
• You may express your intent to run through unpaid promotion (e.g., organic social media posts), provided no money is spent.

This is outlined in Section 88.20(1)-(2) of the Municipal Elections Act, which states that no campaign expenses may be incurred until a person is officially nominated.

The Town will be providing further updates on the nomination process in the coming months. If you have any questions, please contact Town Clerk, Carolynn Errett at cerrett@renfrew.ca

The Corporation of the Town of Renfrew and its local boards and committees are committed to ensuring accountable and transparent election practices in relation to the use of corporate resources. This policy establishes provisions for the use of the Town’s facilities, resources and infrastructure during an election period, to preserve public trust and integrity in the election process and to comply with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
 

Click here to view the Use of Corporate Resources During an Election Period Policy

Did you know your school support designation determines which trustee election you can participate in for in the next municipal and school board elections? 

In Ontario, property owners and tenants can choose which school board they support. This designation also helps determine how you’re listed on the Preliminary List of Electors, placing you on the correct voters list for the municipal and school board elections. 

MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) is legislatively responsible for collecting school support designation data. This information is provided to Elections Ontario to help build and maintain the Preliminary List of Electors. 

School support designations should be reviewed and, if needed, updated by June 1, 2026, to be accurately included on the Preliminary List of Electors for the election on October 26, 2026.  

To learn more about school support and update your designation, visit mpac.ca/schoolsupport. 

"So You Want to Run for Council?" Candidate Information Sessions

Interested in running for municipal office? Join one of our upcoming Candidate Information Sessions to learn what it takes to serve on Council and better understand the responsibilities of local government.

Session Dates & Locations

April 23

• 2:00 – 4:30 PM at Eganville Arena (178 Jane St., Eganville) - Registration Link Here
• 7:00 – 9:30 PM at Murray Yantha Community Centre (2473 Russett Dr., McNab/Braeside) - Registration Link Here

April 24

• 2:00 – 4:30 PM at Petawawa Civic Centre (16 Civic Centre Rd., Petawawa) - Registration Link Here
• 2:00 – 4:30 PM Virtual Session via Zoom - Registration Link Here

All sessions will cover the same information, so you can attend the one that works best for your schedule.

Guest Speaker

The sessions will be led by Nigel Bellchamber, an experienced municipal professional who has worked in municipal finance with the Ontario government, served as Commissioner of Finance for the City of London, and as Chief Administrative Officer for Middlesex County. He has also trained municipal staff and councils through Amberly Gavel and N.G. Bellchamber & Associates.

What You’ll Learn

Each session will provide an overview of:

• The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act
• Council’s roles and responsibilities
• Municipal powers
• Personal responsibility as an elected official
• The public’s role in local government
• The difference between governance and administration
• The impacts of serving on Council on family life
• And more

Registration

Registration is free.
To sign up, contact by email or phone, or register online:

• Email: info@admastonbromley.com
• Phone: (613) 432-2885
• Online registration available through Eventbrite (links above)