Candidate Information | Municipality of Arran Elderslie

The next Municipal and School Board Election takes place Monday, October 26, 2026

Nominations are now closed.

Council of the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie

Arran‑Elderslie Council consists of seven members elected to represent the municipality:

One (1) Mayor – elected at large
One (1) Deputy Mayor – elected at large
One (1) Arran Ward Councillor
One (1) Chesley Ward Councillor
One (1) Elderslie Ward Councillor
One (1) Paisley Ward Councillor
One (1) Tara Ward Councillor

The Mayor serves as the Head of Council. Since 2025, the Mayor has Strong Mayor Powers which provides special powers and duties they may chose to exercise under provincial legislation.

As a Councillor, you have representative, policy-making and stewardship roles to play in your municipality. Often these roles will overlap. You will be called on to consider and make decisions on issues that will sometimes be complex and controversial. Most of those decisions will have long-term consequences for your municipality that extend beyond your four-year term of office, and should be made in the context of your municipality’s directions for the wellbeing of your community.

The time commitment can be significant. There are two Council meetings per month, with the exception of July, August, and December having only one meeting. Council meetings are scheduled in-person on the second and fourth Monday, commencing at 9:00 am. In addition to Council meetings, there may be additional Public Meetings and Special Council meetings scheduled throughout the year.

Additionally, all members of Council are appointed to Committees of Council, which often meet monthly. Council members are also expected to attend special events held by the Municipality and other community groups. There may be a considerable time spent talking with and responding to the residents. The amount of time required to prepare for a Council or committee meetings can be several hours per week. The Mayor also sits on Bruce County Council.

Meetings

Currently, Council meetings take place in-person at 9:00 am on the second and fourth Monday of each month, with the exception of July, August, and December where there is only one Council meeting.

The current term of office concludes on November 14, 2026. The new term of office is from November 15, 2026 to November 14, 2030.

Who can run for Municipal Council?

Who Can Run?

To run as a candidate in a municipal election, you must:

Be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old.
Be qualified to vote in the municipality by:
- living in the municipality, or
- owning or renting property in the municipality, or
- being the spouse of somebody who owns or rents property in the municipality.
Not be prohibited from holding municipal office according to Section 29 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Councillor Roles and Responsibilities

Please review the Ontario Municipal Councillor's Guide to learn about the roles and responsibilities of a municipal council member.

Association of Municipalities of Ontario Election Resources