Candidates
The first day to register as a candidate in the Municipal and School Board Election is May 1, 2026.
The qualifications to become a candidate for municipal office in the City of Oshawa are established by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
To be eligible as a candidate for municipal office, a person at the time of being nominated must be:
- a Canadian citizen;
- at least 18 years of age;
- a resident in the City of Oshawa or the owner or tenant of land in the City of Oshawa, or the spouse of such
- owner or tenant; and,
- not disqualified by legislation from holding municipal office.
A person who is qualified to be elected for municipal office may run to represent any ward, regardless of where they may live.
The first day to file nomination papers is May 1, 2026.
Elected Offices
| Position | Number to be elected |
| Regional Chair | One to be elected by all electors in the Region of Durham.* |
| Mayor | One to be elected by all electors in the City of Oshawa. |
| Regional and City Councillor | Five to be elected, one from each of the five wards in the City of Oshawa, by electors in the respective wards. |
| City Councillor | Five to be elected, one from each of the five wards in the City of Oshawa, by electors in the respective wards. |
| Trustee, Durham District School Board | Three to be elected by all English Public School electors in the City of Oshawa. |
| Trustee, Durham Catholic District School Board | Two to be elected by all English Catholic School electors in the City of Oshawa. |
| Conseiller(ère), Conseil scolaire Viamonde | One to be elected by all French Public electors in the areas of the Region of Durham, County of Haliburton, County of Northumberland, County of Peterborough, City of Peterborough, City of Kawartha Lakes and City of Quinte West.** |
| Conseiller(ère), Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir | One to be elected by all French Catholic electors in the Regional Municipality of Durham, Counties of Northumberland and Peterborough and Cities of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough and Quinte West.** |
*Nominations will be received in Legislative Services, Corporate Services Department, Regional Municipality of Durham, 605 Rossland Rd. E., Whitby.
**Nominations will be received in Legislative Services, Oshawa City Hall.
Resources
Running for Municipal Office - Everything you need to know as an underrepresented candidate
Offered by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), this virtual workshop will prepare you for municipal office and equip you with what to expect running as a underrepresented candidate as well as key strategies for running a successful campaign. Registration is free.
Dates:
- April 8 - 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Contact us
Legislative Services
Oshawa City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7
Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: vote@oshawa.ca
