Municipal elections are held every four years and give residents the opportunity to shape their local government. In Petawawa, voters elect a Mayor and six Town Councillors to represent the community, as well as local school board trustees.
You are eligible to vote or run for office if you are a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years of age, and live in Petawawa or own or rent property here.
On January 20, 2025, Petawawa Town Council adopted By-law 1719/25 to authorize the use of alternative voting (internet and telephone voting) for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election. These electronic methods ensure that eligible electors can participate in an accessible, convenient, and safe method of voting.
Mark your calendar — the next municipal election will take place on October 26, 2026.
For more information or if you have any questions regarding the municipal election, please contact the Clerk’s Office.
Clerk’s Office, Town Hall
1111 Victoria Street, Petawawa
Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
2026 Municipal Election Information
2026 Key Dates
Friday, May 1, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. (Nomination Period Begins)
- First day to file a Nomination Paper for the offices of Mayor, Councillor and School Board Trustee:
- Once the Nomination paper has been filed with the Clerk, candidates can start raising and spending money on their campaign.
- Preliminary spending limit is provided to candidates.
- Preliminary self-contribution limit is provided to candidates running for Mayor, Councillor and School Board Trustee.
- First day to file a notice of registration as a third party advertiser:
- Third party advertisers cannot raise or spend money on their campaign, or advertise, until their registration is received/ processed by the Clerk.
- Preliminary spending limit is provided to third party advertisers upon certification.
Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2 p.m. (Nomination Day)
- Deadline for candidates to:
- File a nomination;
- Withdraw a nomination;
- Change office
Monday, August 24, 2026 (Certification Day)
- The Clerk shall examine all filed nomination forms prior to 4:00 p.m. and if satisfied, certify the nominations.
- By 4:00 p.m. the Clerk is to declare candidate(s) elected by acclamation, if any.
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 (Voters’ List)
- The voters’ list is made available to candidates, by request.
- Revisions to the Voters’ List
- Individuals may apply to the Clerk’s Office until close of voting on October 26, 2026, to have their name added to or removed from the voters’ list, or to update their information. Requests may also be made to remove the name of a deceased person.
Friday, October 23, 2026 (Close of Third Party Advertiser Registration Period)
- Last day to register as a third party advertiser.
Friday, October 16 to Sunday October 26, 2026 (Voting Period)
The Voting Period begins on Friday, October 16, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and ends on Monday, October 26, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
Eligible voters may cast their vote either via internet or telephone during the voting period.
Saturday, October 17, 2026 (Advance Vote)
An Advance Vote will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Town of Petawawa Municipal Office, 1111 Victoria Street, Petawawa, Ontario, where eligible electors may vote in person using the internet or telephone.
Monday, October 26, 2026 (Voting Day)
- Voting Day is the final day on which the vote is to be taken in the election.
Eligible electors may vote in person in the Council Chambers at the Town of Petawawa Municipal Office, 1111 Victoria Street, Petawawa, Ontario from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. using the internet or telephone.
- The Clerk will declare the results of the election and provide information to the public on the website.
Add your name to the voters' list
If you do not receive a voter information letter in the mail, please check with the Clerks office to see if your information is up to date. You can also call Town Hall by telephone 613-687-5536.
- You must apply at the Clerks Office at Town Hall, located at 1111 Victoria Street if you want to add your name to the list or correct your information. You have until the close of voting on October 26, 2026 to apply for any changes.
- If you are applying to add your name to the voters’ list, you will be asked to provide proof that you are eligible to vote, in the form of 2 pieces of identification.
School Support Designation
Your school support designation matters. Review it by June 1 so you’re ready to vote on October 26.
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 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.
Information for Third Parties
Third party advertising refers to advertisements or other materials that support, promote or oppose a candidate, or support, promote or oppose a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot. Third party in this context is a person or entity who is not a candidate.
2022 Municipal Elections Financial Statements
All Candidates shall file with the Clerk, the “Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report” [Form 4] on or before 2:00 pm on March 31, 2023, reflecting the Candidate’s election campaign finances as of December 31 in the year of the election. The earliest the “Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report” [Form4] can be filed is the first day the Municipal Office is open in January 2023.
At least 30 days before the filing date, but no later than March 1, 2023, the Clerk shall give every candidate whose nomination was filed notice of:
- all the filing requirements of this section;
- the candidate’s entitlement to receive a refund of the nomination filing fee if they meet the requirements of Section 34 (Refund); and
- the penalties set out in Sections 88.23 (2) and 92 (1) to (3).
The notice shall be given on “Notice to Candidate of Filing Requirements” [Form EL42A].
Certified Election Results - 2022 Municipal Election
2022 Financial Disclosures
Councillor
Renfrew County District School Board
Renfrew County Catholic District School Board
Conseil Des Ecoles Publiques De L'est De L'Ontario
Conseil Des Ecoles Catholiques Du Centre Est
Municipal Election Acclamations
There were two acclamations for the 2022 School Board Trustee Election:
Bryon Morris – Trustee, Renfrew County District School Board
Colette Stitt – Conseiller (ère), Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
Notice of RCDSB Trustee Vacancy – January 2024
The Renfrew County District School Board (RCDSB) accepted applications from community members to fill a Board of Trustee vacancy for the current term following the passing of Trustee Bryon Morris.
Applications were received by the Board and the successful applicant was sworn in at the February 27, 2024, RCDSB meeting.
School Board Trustee Elected (February 2024): Karthi Rajamani Trustee, Renfrew County District School Board
2022 Candidate Information package
Please refer to the links below to access Candidate information and forms from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website regarding your participation as a candidate in the upcoming Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections:
- 2022 Candidates’ Guide – Ontario municipal council and school board elections
- Form 1 – Nomination Paper
*Your Nomination Paper must be signed and filed in person or by an agent during regular business hours between May 2, 2022 and August 18, 2022, and between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on August 19, 2022 (Nomination Day). Please call 613-687-5536 to book an appointment with the Clerk.
*When you download Form 2 you will need to add additional pages to the document to add up to the required 25 signatures.
2022 Notice of Nominations
Nominations
Notice to Municipal Electors of the Town of Petawawa
Notice is hereby given that candidates for the following offices may file nomination papers at the Office of the Clerk, 1111 Victoria Street, Petawawa, Ontario no later than 2:00 p.m. on Nomination Day, Friday, August 19, 2022:
Corporation of the Town of Petawawa for the Offices of:
- Mayor – One (1) to be elected
- Councillors – Six (6) to be elected
School Board Trustee Elections:
- Trustee, Renfrew County District School Board
- One (1) to be elected for the area of the Town of Petawawa
- Trustee, Renfrew County Catholic District School Board
- One (1) to be elected for the combined area of the Town of Petawawa, Town of Deep River, Town of Laurentian Hills, and the Township of Head, Clara and Maria
- *Nomination Papers to be filed with the Clerk of the Town of Petawawa
- One (1) to be elected for the combined area of the Town of Petawawa, Town of Deep River, Town of Laurentian Hills, and the Township of Head, Clara and Maria
- Conseiller (ère), Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
- Un (1) élu pour le secteur 1 qui comprend les comtés de Lanark et de Renfrew et le canton de South Algonquin
- *Nomination Papers to filed with the Clerk of the Town of Petawawa
- Un (1) élu pour le secteur 1 qui comprend les comtés de Lanark et de Renfrew et le canton de South Algonquin
- Conseiller (ère), Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est
- Un (1) élu pour le secteur 3 qui comprend le comté de Renfrew et le canton de South Algonquin
- *Nomination Papers to be filed with the Clerk of the Town of Petawawa
Nominations may be made by completing and filing the prescribed form in the Office of the Clerk. Nominations must be accompanied with the prescribed nomination filing fee, as follows: $200.00 for the Head of Council and $100.00 for all other offices. The filing fee is payable by cash, certified cheque, money order, or electronic method (debit card). Please call 613-687-5536 to book an appointment with the Clerk to file your nomination.
A nomination must be signed by the candidate and may be filed in person or by an agent during regular business hours between May 2, 2022 and August 18, 2022, and between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on August 19, 2022 (Nomination Day) and such additional nominations, if required may be filed in the office of the Clerk.