Running as a Candidate & Campaigning

Thinking about running in the upcoming municipal election? The Candidate Information Session is designed to provide prospective candidates with key information to help them prepare for the election process and understand rules around campaigning in the City of Cambridge.

• How to file your nomination
• Important election dates and timelines
• Campaign rules and regulations
• Use of corporate resources and compliance expectations
• Roles and responsibilities of candidates
• Available tools and support from the City

Event Details

• Date: May 20, 2026
• Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Location: Historic City Hall (50 Dickson Street, Cambridge)
• Parking: available in the City Hall and Beverly street parking lots
• Bus Access: Plan your trip through Grand River Transit 
  • Nearby bus stops: Ainslie/Throne (Temporary Stop), Ainslie/Dickson, Wellington/Main, Ainslie Terminal

Registration

Pre-register by emailing election@cambridge.ca !

Nomination Packages

Nomination packages will be available for pick-up during the session.

Questions?

For more information, please contact the Election Team at: election@cambridge.ca or (519) 513-6415

Before beginning the nomination process, you must make sure you meet all eligibility requirements to run for office. In general, you must:

The City of Cambridge is divided into eight wards. However:

• You do not need to live in a particular ward to run for Councillor in that ward.
• You may run in any ward, regardless of your place of residence within the city.
• Having a campaign office or business in a ward does not give you elector eligibility in that ward

School board trustees are elected during the municipal election to represent the interests of electors in their school board. In Cambridge, voters may be eligible for one of four boards:

• English Public – Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB)
• English Catholic – Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB)
• French Public – Conseil scolaire Viamonde
• French Catholic – Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir

To run for school board trustee, you must meet general eligibility requirements, and in some cases, additional requirements depending on the board.

The Regional Chair is the head of Waterloo Regional Council and represents the entire Region. The Chair is elected at‑large by voters across the Region and leads regional governance, collaboration, and public engagement.

• Leading Regional Council and Presiding Over Meetings: The Chair provides leadership to Council, chairs meetings, sets agendas in collaboration with staff, and helps guide decisions on regional priorities such as transit, housing, public health, policing, waste management, and major infrastructure.
• Attending Council and Committee Meetings: The Chair participates in (and presides over) Regional Council and committee meetings where budgets, strategies, and by‑laws are debated and approved.
• Representing the Region and Engaging with the Public: As the principal regional spokesperson, the Chair represents Waterloo Region at official functions, intergovernmental meetings, and community events, and engages with residents, businesses, and partners.
• Working with Local Mayors and Regional Councillors: The Chair collaborates with the Mayors of the seven local municipalities (Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and the four townships) and the elected Regional Councillors to coordinate programs and align regional and local priorities.

For more information and to file your nominations, please contact the Region of Waterloo.

Regional Councillors represent the City of Cambridge at the Region of Waterloo and participate in decisions that affect the entire region. Their responsibilities include:

School Board Trustees are locally elected representatives who govern Ontario’s publicly funded school boards. They focus on student achievement, well‑being, and equity across the entire board’s jurisdiction (not just one school), and they act as a bridge between the community and the education system.

• Governing with a Focus on Students: Trustees maintain a board‑wide focus on student achievement, well‑being, and equity, and participate in decisions that affect all schools in their jurisdiction.
• Attending Board and Committee Meetings: Trustees attend and participate in meetings of the Board of Trustees and its committees to set policy, approve budgets, and monitor outcomes, while holding the Director of Education accountable for implementing board policy.
• Engaging with Parents/Guardians, Students, and Communities: Trustees communicate board decisions back to constituents, gather input from families and community members, and bring forward community perspectives to inform board policy and planning.
• Policy, Budget, and Strategic Planning: Trustees set the board’s policy direction, approve the budget, and oversee multi‑year plans while ensuring provincial funds are used appropriately and that the board complies with the Education Act.
• What Trustees Do Not Do: Trustees do not manage day‑to‑day school operations or act unilaterally, only the Board acts collectively. Operational management is the responsibility of the Director of Education and staff.

Available Offices

• Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB)
• Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB)
• Conseil scolaire Viamonde (CSV): Contact the City of London Clerk for more information.
• Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (CSCM): Contact the City of Kitchener Clerk for more information. 

Your nomination package will also contain additional Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) forms that you may need at various points throughout the election process. These forms support activities such as appointing a proxy voter, filing financial statements, or extending your campaign period. They include:

These forms are provided for your reference and future use, depending on your campaign activity and obligations under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Accessing Forms Online

All MMAH election forms are also available through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Central Forms Repository (CFR).

This ensures candidates can always access the most current versions if additional copies are needed.

City of Cambridge Supplemental Forms

Candidates must book an appointment to file their nomination in person with the City Clerk, through our online bookings portal. 

Filing by an Agent

If you cannot attend your nomination appointment in person, you may have an authorized agent file your nomination on your behalf. The agent must present:

Before attending City Hall for your nomination appointment, ensure that:

• All required provincial forms are fully completed
• All endorsement signatures (if applicable) are valid and complete
• All City of Cambridge supplemental forms are ready to be completed and signed in person
• Your government‑issued ID is prepared for verification
• Your filing fee is ready in an accepted format
• You are aware of the nomination deadline, August 21, 2026, established under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996

If you choose not to proceed with your candidacy, you may withdraw your nomination, provided it is done before 2:00 p.m. on Nomination Day, as required under Section 36 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

To withdraw, you must: 

• File a written withdrawal with the City Clerk (this form will be available in the nomination package)
• Appear in person with valid identification to submit the withdrawal
• Ensure the Clerk receives the withdrawal before the legislated deadline

Once the nomination period closes, the Clerk conducts a formal review of all filed nomination papers to ensure they comply with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA). This includes verifying:

• All mandatory provincial and municipal forms are complete and accurate
• Endorsement signatures (if applicable) meet MEA requirements
• Candidate identification and eligibility
• Filing fees have been paid correctly
• All City of Cambridge supplemental forms were completed and signed in person

If everything meets the MEA requirements, your nomination will be certified, and will be made available through the Nominations and Certified Candidate Profiles page.

If the number of certified candidates for an office is equal to or fewer than the number of positions available, the candidate(s) are acclaimed and declared elected without voting. The Clerk will make this declaration as part of the certification process.

Candidates must follow the City of Cambridge’s Use of Corporate Resources During an Election Policy. This policy ensures that municipal property, staff, facilities, equipment, technology, and communication channels are not used for campaign purposes.

In general:

• Municipal resources cannot be used to support or oppose a campaign
• City staff must remain politically neutral
• City logos, photos, branding, and social media content cannot appear in campaign materials
• Campaigning is not permitted on municipal property except where allowed under the Election Sign By-law

For full details, including specific rules and examples of what is and is not permitted, please visit the Use of Corporate Resources During an Election Policy page.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide voters with accurate and accessible information about their campaign. The City Clerk does not distribute candidate contact information or campaign materials to voters. Additionally, these materials cannot be displayed or distributed on public property, during city events or at polling locations (please see the Election Governance and Resources page for more information)

The MEA does not require debates to be held, and the municipal clerk does not organize debates or forums.

Debates may be organized by:

• Community groups
• Media outlets
• Schools or neighbourhood organizations
• Individual candidates or campaign teams
• Any other interested parties

Participation is optional, and candidates are responsible for monitoring local debate opportunities.

Third party advertisers (TPAs) are individuals, corporations, or trade unions that register to conduct advertising that promotes, supports, or opposes a candidate. While candidates and TPAs may share similar campaign goals, they operate independently under the Municipal Elections Act. Candidates cannot direct a third-party advertiser’s activities, and TPAs must not coordinate their advertising with a candidate’s campaign. Any advertising that appears to work jointly with a candidate may be considered a violation of the Municipal Elections Act.

Candidates may continue campaigning on Voting Day (October 26, 2026).

However:

• No campaigning is permitted inside or on the property of any voting place, including parking lots, lobbies, and walkways.
• No signs may be placed on voting place properties.

All candidates must file a financial statement with the City Clerk by the legislated deadline.

For more information on Financials visit the Campaign and Advertising Financial Guidelines page