How this guide works

Candidate lists come from each municipality's official certified-candidate page. Biographies, platforms, positives and concerns are summarised only from cited sources (official pages, established news outlets, debate coverage, and candidates' own websites, which are labelled as campaign claims). Nothing is inferred. Candidates with little verifiable information are marked 'limited public information'. No polls are reported.

This guide covers 204 certified mayoral candidates in 27 races, drawing on 133 cited sources. Nominations closed on August 21, 2026. Information is current to October 1, 2026.

Neutrality. Candidates appear alphabetically by surname. Every candidate gets the same layout, with positives and concerns given equal space. When reporting is thin we say so rather than fill the gap. We don't use photos, polls, endorsements or rankings, or any company logos.

Sourcing standard. Candidate lists come only from each municipality's certified list (nominations closed August 21, 2026). Every biography, platform point, positive and concern links to at least one source: an official record, an established news outlet, debate coverage, or the candidate's own materials. Every concern is explicitly attributed ("According to …"). We never invent facts, quotes or polls.

What we leave out. Private-life matters, references to family members, rumours, unproven allegations, and descriptions of character or criminality unless they come from a court or tribunal record or a major news outlet. Where a candidate's response or denial was reported, we include it. Positives and concerns are summaries of what sources report, not our assessment.

Balance. Positives and concerns sit side by side with equal space. Where only one side has been reported, we say so rather than fill the gap. Thinly covered candidates are labelled "Limited public information".

Not election advertising. This guide does not promote, support or oppose any candidate, accepts no payment from candidates or campaigns, and runs no paid promotion.

Campaign claims. Material from a candidate's own website is labelled as a campaign claim and isn't treated as independent verification.

Corrections. See our Corrections & right of reply page and change log.

Independent, non-partisan educational resource. Not affiliated with any candidate, political party, municipality or Elections Ontario. Summarizing a positive or concern attributed to a source is not an endorsement or opposition; always verify with the linked sources and your municipality's official election page.