The Nomination Period for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election begins on Friday, May 1, 2026. Nominations must be filed in person with the Clerk no later than Friday, August 21, 2026, at 2 p.m. Interested Candidates are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment ahead of time to ensure staff availability, by contacting the Clerk’s office elections@clarence-rockland.com or 613‑446‑6022, ext. 2300.
Nominations
May 1, 2026
- Nomination periods begin for Mayor, Councillor, School Board Trustee
August 21, 2026
- Nomination period ends at 2:00 p.m.
- Deadline to file a nomination (9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
- Deadline to withdraw a nomination (before 2:00 p.m.)
August 24, 2026
- Clerk certifies candidate nomination papers (by 4:00 p.m.)
- Candidates elected by acclamation declared (after 4:00 p.m.)
Voters’ List
September 1, 2026
- Voters’ List reproduced and available to certified candidates upon request
Campaign Signs
August 27, 2026
- First day election campaign signs may be posted
This date is 60 days before Voting Day
Clarence-Rockland Municipal Council
One Mayor will be elected at large, and one Councillor will be elected in each of wards 1 through 8.
English Language Public Trustee – Upper Canada District School Board
One trustee will be elected at large to represent the geographic area of Alfred and Plantagenet, Casselman, Champlain, East Hawkesbury, Hawkesbury, Russell, The Nation, and Clarence‑Rockland.
English Language Separate Trustee – Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario
One trustee will be elected at large to represent the geographic area of Alfred and Plantagenet, Casselman, Champlain, East Hawkesbury, Hawkesbury, Russell, The Nation, and Clarence‑Rockland. Nominations for this office must be filed with the Municipality of Russell.
French Language Public Trustee – Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
One trustee will be elected at large to represent the geographic area of Russell and Clarence‑Rockland.
French Language Separate Trustee – Conseil scolaire de District Catholique de l’Est Ontarien
One trustee will be elected at large by the electors of Clarence‑Rockland.
The following is required to file a nomination:
- Nomination Paper - Form 1
- Endorsement of Nomination - Form 2 (Requires 25 original signatures from eligible voters)
- Prescribed nomination filing fee ($200 for Mayor, $100 for all other offices)
- Provide Proof of Identification and Residence as prescribed in O.Reg. 304/13
- Declaration of Qualifications - Council Candidates (Form CR101) [PDF/164KB]
- Declaration of Qualifications - School Board Candidates (Form CR102) [PDF/140KB]
NOTE: Forms 1 and 2 are Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) forms. If you have difficulty opening these forms, please try saving the form and then opening it in Adobe Reader. If you have difficulty with any other forms, please contact elections@clarence-rockland.com. Paper copies of the candidate package, including all necessary forms, are available for pickup at Client Services at City Hall.
Booking an Appointment: To file your nomination papers, please book an appointment with the Clerk’s Office by emailing elections@clarence-rockland.com, or by phone at 613-446-6022 ext.2300.
Once candidates have filed their nominations, a list of registered candidates will be available on the Registered Candidates webpage.
Campaigning is not permitted until your nomination papers have been officially filed.
March 25, 2026
The eight municipalities of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell invite individuals interested in running as a candidate or registering as a third party advertiser in the 2026 municipal elections to attend a free bilingual training session offered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
This information session will provide an overview of the rules, responsibilities, and requirements related to the municipal election process.
Event Details:
- Who: Anyone interested in running as a candidate or registering as a third party advertiser in one of the eight municipalities of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell: Alfred-Plantagenet, Casselman, Champlain, Clarence-Rockland, Hawkesbury, Hawkesbury East, La Nation and Russell. The training and provided materials will be bilingual.
- When: Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
- Where: Community Hall, St-Isidore Recreation Centre – 20 Arena Street, St-Isidore
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Registration: To participate, please email your name and the municipality where you intend to submit your nomination to elections@nationmun.ca by 4:00 p.m. on April 20, 2026.
- Cost: Free
We encourage anyone interested to attend in order to obtain the information needed to properly prepare for the 2026 municipal elections.
To follow
AMO's Education
Join AMO’s new online workshop series for leaders seeking re-election or first-time aspiring candidates—offered at no charge for participants
As Ontario heads toward the 2026 municipal elections, elected officials and aspiring candidates are being tested like never before. From navigating divisive politics and social media toxicity to maintaining personal wellbeing under constant public scrutiny, the demands of leadership can feel overwhelming.
Developed in partnership with Nominee, Stronger Leaders, Stronger Communities is designed to equip you with the tools, resilience, and confidence to meet these challenges head-on — and to rediscover the purpose that brought you to public service in the first place.
Through expert facilitation, guided peer-to-peer discussion, and practical takeaways, you’ll leave each session with fresh insight, renewed energy, and a stronger foundation for leadership.
This workshop series is offered through AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project, please find additional research and resources on the Project’s website. If you are interested in more of the Project’s initiatives, please join us at the 2nd Annual Healthy Democracy Forum in October 18 and 19.
This workshop series is being offered for no charge in two streams:
Stream 1: For elected officials at the municipal level across Ontario who are considering re-election in 2026 and preparing their path forward.
Stream 2: For community members considering a run for municipal office in 2026—first-time candidates who want to build confidence before launching a campaign. Civic-minded leaders who want to explore whether elected office is right for them.
Each stream includes four inspiring sessions (you can register for the full series or individual sessions):
• Session 1—November/December 2025: Finding Your Why – Leading with Purpose and Authenticity
• Session 2—January/February 2026: Praise Your Rivals – Managing Conflict and Building Effective Relationships
• Session 3—February/March 2026: What Matters Most – Prioritizing Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Session 4—March/April 2026: Building Your Movement – Turning Values into Action
What you’ll gain by attending these sessions:
• Clarity of Purpose: reconnect with your values and what drives you to serve
• Resilience in Conflict: handle tough situations with skill and confidence
• Personal Wellbeing: prevent burnout and create sustainable leadership practices
• Stronger Communication: inspire trust and mobilize authentic community support
• Practical Tools & Resources: customized workbooks, scripts, and templates you can use immediately
• Peer Connection: build relationships with others also preparing to run in 2026
For more information, click here.
Please email events@amo.on.ca with any questions.
If you are a youth interested in running for municipal council in October 2026, we have a workshop for you! The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) is offering a series of workshops for young people thinking about running for municipal office in the October 2026 elections. These sessions will provide insights and strategies to build your understanding and confidence around how to become a candidate and running a campaign.
Facilitated by three current municipal leaders, Natasha Salonen-Mayor of the Township of Wilmont, Cam Wales-Councillor, City of Brockville, and Aidan Kallioinen-Councillor, Town of Espanola, you will gain firsthand insight into:
- What to expect running as a candidate and as young person
- Critical strategies for successfully campaigning for municipal office
- Understand what it takes to become a candidate
- Strategies for engagement including communication
- And more!
Dates:
- Wednesday, February 18, 6:30-8:00PM
- Wednesday, March 11, 6:30-8:00PM
- Wednesday, April 15, 6:30-8:00PM