1. Deborah Lynne Poole-Hofmann
2. Andrew Turk
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The following individuals have filed nomination papers for the 2026 Township of Gillies Municipal Election. The nominees listed below are not official candidates until the Municipal Clerk has certified their nomination.
As per s.35 (1) of the Municipal Elections Act, prior to 4:00 p.m. on August 24, 2026, the Monday following Nomination Day, the Clerk shall examine each nomination filed and if satisfied the person is qualified to be nominated and that the nomination complies with the Act, the Clerk shall certify as such.
A full list of registered candidates will be posted after the nomination period ends and the candidates have been certified on August 24, 2026.
School Board Trustee nominations may be found on the City of Thunder Bay's Website
Reeve - One (1) to be elected.
1. Deborah Lynne Poole-Hofmann
2. Andrew Turk
Councillor - Four (4) to be elected.
1. Rox-Anne Moore
2. Clay McKibbon
Elections for municipal governments in Ontario are held every four years on the fourth Monday of October.
The next municipal election will be held on October 26, 2026.
A person cannot raise or spend money on an election campaign until their filed nomination has been certified by the Clerk.
If you voted in a Provincial or Federal Election, it does not guarantee that you are on the Voters' List for a Municipal Election. Elections Ontario manages a single register of electors for both provincial and municipal elections in Ontario. You can check to see if your name is on the voters' list or manage your information through the voter registration service.
Are you 16 or 17 years old and interested in voting? If you are 16 or 17 years old, a Canadian citizen, and a resident of Ontario, you can add your name to the Register of Future Voters.
Ensure your school support designation is up to date before voting day.
To ensure your correct school support designation is provided to Elections Ontario in time for the next municipal and school board elections on October 26, 2026, it should be reviewed and, if needed, updated by June 1, 2026.
While Elections Ontario maintains the Permanent Register of Electors in Ontario for provincial, municipal, and school board elections, MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) is legislatively responsible for collecting school support designation information.
What is school support?
Whether you own or rent your home, your property is linked to a school board – even if you don’t have children or your children aren’t currently attending school. While you’re not required to make a designation, you do have the option to choose which school board you support. If you don’t make a choice, your support will default to the English-Public school board.
How to update school support designations
Property owners can change their school support designation online using MPAC AboutMyProperty™ or our online portal for tenants. To get started, choose the option that applies to you:
A step-by-step guide is available in English or French.
Please note: Registration may take up to 24 hours to activate.
You can submit a paper Application for Direction of School Support form in English or French and mail or email it to MPAC.
To learn more or update a school support designation, visit mpac.ca/schoolsupport.
How do I run for Reeve of Councillor?
To become a candidate for Reeve or Councillor you must file a nomination paper with the Municipal Clerk, in person, at 1092 Highway 595 (side door entrance). Nomination papers may be filed at the office beginning Friday May 1, 2026 at 9 am to Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2:00 pm. By appointment only. Walk in appointments will not be guaranteed.
Appointments to file nomination papers may be booked online by clicking the button below or by calling 807-475-3185 ext 3 (leave a message).
The Municipal Office is closed on Fridays however, will be open for appointments on May 1st, 2026 & August 21, 2026 between 9 am to 2 pm.
The deadline to file a nomination is 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026.
A person cannot raise or spend money on an election campaign until their filed nomination has been certified by the Clerk.
A digital nomination package may be downloaded by clicking the button below.
Printed nomination packages may be picked up at the Municipal Office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, between 9AM - 4PM. Closed for lunch between 12:00PM - 12:30PM.
Qualifications to Run for Reeve or Councillor.
To run for Reeve or Councillor on the day the nomination paper is filed, a person must be:
Who is disqualified from running for Reeve or Councillor?
The following people are disqualified from being elected or holding office as Reeve of Councillor:
Acceptable Forms of Identification.
Candidates filing a nomination must present identification showing their name, photo, qualifying Township of Gillies address, and signature.
One piece of ID or a combination of two pieces of ID as specified here will meet the ID requirement.
Acceptable ID includes:
A campaign bank account must be opened for election campaign purposes prior to spending money or accepting contributions. All contributions of money, including contributions from yourself, must be deposited in the campaign account. All campaign expenses must be paid from the campaign account.
You do not have to open a campaign bank account if you do not spend any money and do not receive any contributions of money. If you receive contributions of goods or services, but no contributions of money, you do not have to open a campaign bank account.
You cannot use your personal bank account for campaign finances, even if you are planning a very small campaign.
Candidates must keep records of:
All campaign financial records must be retained until after November 15, 2030, when the next new council has been sworn in.
Campaign Contribution Information.
Money, goods or services given to a candidate for their campaign are considered to be contributions. Candidates can accept contributions from:
Contributions to candidates from trade unions and corporations are prohibited in municipal elections.
Cash contributions may be accepted up to $25. Contributions over $25 must be by cheque or money order, or by a method that clearly shows where the funds came from. Receipts must be issued for each contribution and should include the name and address of the contributor, the amount and date of the contribution.
'Pass the hat' donations of under $25 received at fundraising events, may be given anonymously and the candidate is not required to issue receipts. These donations are still considered campaign income and the total amount must be reported on the candidate's financial statement.
The ticket price for a fundraising event is a contribution and the candidate must issue a receipt for the full amount.
The maximum amount an individual can contribute to a candidate's campaign is $1,200. Contributors may donate up to an aggregate total of $5,000 to any number of candidates running for the same council.
Candidates are required to inform contributors of contribution limits.
There is a limit on the amount that a candidate and their spouse can collectively contribute to the candidate's own campaign for a municipal council office.
The limit is based on the number of electors voting for the office, and is calculated as follows:
Upon filing their nomination, a candidate will receive a certificate from the Clerk with a preliminary calculation of maximum self-funding amounts, based on the voters' list as of September 15, 2022. On or before September 30, 2026, the Clerk shall provide a final certificate. The number of electors used in the final calculation will be the greater of the number on the voters' list on September 15, 2022 or September 15, 2026.
A candidate's general spending limit applies only to expenses incurred until the end of Voting Day. The limit is based on the number of electors voting for the office, and is calculated as follows:
There is a separate spending limit for parties and expressions of appreciation after Voting Day, and that limit is 10% of the above calculated amounts.
The Clerk will provide candidates with two certificates of maximum campaign expenses:
A candidate may appoint scrutineers to represent them during voting and counting of the votes. Each candidate may appoint one scrutineer per ballot box in a voting place. A candidate is not required to appoint that many scrutineers, or any scrutineers at all.
Scrutineers may observe, but they are not allowed to interfere with voters, attempt to influence how they vote, or ask a voter how they voted.
The form and process for appointing a scrutineer will be updated once available.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario produces Lead Where You Live 2026: A Guide to running for municipal council.
The Province of Ontario publishes a Municipal Councillor's Guide that provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of an elected member of council.
The Province of Ontario has released the 2026 Candidates' Guide - Ontario municipal council and school board elections to provide information on how to run as a candidate in Ontario municipal council and school board elections.
Candidates Responsibility and Debate Information.
Getting information out to the voters is up to each candidate. It is the candidates responsibility to provide voters with their information, including their campaign information. The Municipal Clerk is not responsible for providing candidate contact information to voters.
The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 does not require candidate debates to be held. The Municipal Clerk is not responsible for organizing meetings or debates. Debates can be organized by community groups, media outlets, candidates or any other interested persons.
If any information on this website differs from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing information, provincial legislation takes precedence. It is the candidates responsibility to ensure they are following all applicable laws.
An Election was held on Monday, October 24, 2022 for Municipal Council and School Board Trustees. The Municipal Clerk is the Returning Officer and responsible for the coordination and management of Municipal elections in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act.
The Election is complete. Council for the next four years has been set. Congratulations to our new Council.
Reeve Wendy Wright (Acclaimed)
Councillor Rudy Buitenhuis (85 Votes)
Councillor William Groenheide (81 Votes)
Councillor Elizabeth Jones (88 Votes)
Councillor Daniel Vanlenthe (90 Votes)
Dino DeBenetti (29 Votes)
Contact Us
Township of Gillies
1092 Hwy. 595,
Kakabeka Falls, ON P0T 1W0
Phone: 807-475-3185
Fax: 807-473-0767