2026 Municipal and School Board Election

Internet Voting: Available from October 1, starting at 9 a.m., to October 20, ending at 5 p.m.

Instructions:

1. Look out for your Voter Information Letter on September 15th.
2. Enter the website "vote.westlincoln.ca" or scan the QR code to access West Lincoln's online voting platform.
3. Use your unique Voter Pin and your birthday for authentication. If you have any difficulty with the authentication process please contact our Election Assistant at jtinker@westlincoln.ca or 905-957-5143
4. Select your desired Candidates and cast your vote!
5. If you wish, you can verify that your vote has been recorded with the encrypted receipt given to you after you have casted your vote.
6. Please do not dispose of your letter until after the election has passed. 

If you require assistance using our Online Voting Platform, please bring your Voter Information Letter to any of our Voter Outreach and Assistance Centres

In addition to traditional advanced polls, the Township will implement a series of Voter Outreach Centres designed to support residents who may face barriers to participating in the election, particularly through the internet voting method.

These outreach centres will NOT operate as traditional polling stations (i.e., no paper ballots or tabulators) but will instead focus on facilitating access to the internet voting platform in a supported environment. These centres aim to address barriers such as limited internet access, travel distance, and unfamiliarity with technology.

Township Office - 318 Canborough Street, October 1-20, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ward 1: West Lincoln Public Library - Caistorville Branch - 9549 York St. Caistorville. Staff will provide hands-on assistance with accessing and navigating the online voting portal.

• Tuesday, October 6, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Ward 2: West Lincoln Public Library - Wellandport Branch - 5042 Canborough Rd. Wellandport. Staff will provide hands-on assistance with accessing and navigating the online voting portal.

• Wednesday, October 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Ward 3: Legion Villa - 171 Mill St., Smithville. A dedicated outreach session will be conducted at Legion Villa to assist residents in casting their ballots using the internet voting system, ensuring accessibility for individuals who may find it difficult or inconvenient to travel to the polls.

• Thursday, October 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Elections Ontario maintains the Permanent Register of Electors for Ontario, also known as the “voters' list” or “register”.

The voters' list, contains information for individuals eligible to vote in provincial and local municipal elections in Ontario.

Learn more about the voter's list on Election Ontario's Register to Vote page, including how to:

• Register voters
• Register absentee voters
• Register future voters

Use the Elections Ontario Register to Vote application to:

• Confirm, update or add your name and home address
• Search, add or remove a property other than your home address
• Remove yourself from the register
• Remove a deceased person from the register
• Check the status of a request

The deadline to register or update your information through Elections Ontario is August 12, 2026; after which, you can do so through the Township's Legislative Services Division or on Election Day at the polls.

If you or your spouse own or rent property other than your home address in Ontario, you might be eligible to vote in more than one municipal election.

As of January 1, 2024, Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is no longer responsible for collecting voter information for local elections. However, MPAC is legislatively required to collect school support designations.

As a property owner in Ontario, you are required to support a school system, even if you do not have children or your children are not currently attending school. This information can be found on your Property Assessment Notice.

Property owners can designate their school support through MPAC’s Online School Support page until June 1, 2026; after which, please do so by contacting the Township's Legislative Services Division.

For more information about school support designations, visit the MPAC website.

You can vote in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election in West Lincoln if you are a Canadian citizen and:

Advance voting options

In-person advance polls: The Township will offer traditional in-person advanced voting at the West Lincoln Community Centre, 177 West Street, Smithville, on the following dates:

• Friday, October 16, 2026, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Internet Voting: Available from October 1, starting at 9 a.m., to October 20, ending at 5 p.m.

Voter Outreach and Assistance Centres: In addition to traditional advanced polls, the Township will implement a series of Voter Outreach Centres designed to support residents who may face barriers to participating in the election, particularly through the internet voting method.

These outreach centres will NOT operate as traditional polling stations (i.e., no paper ballots or tabulators) but will instead focus on facilitating access to the internet voting platform in a supported environment. These centres aim to address barriers such as limited internet access, travel distance, and unfamiliarity with technology.

Ward 1: West Lincoln Public Library - Caistorville Branch - 9549 York St. Caistorville. Staff will provide hands-on assistance with accessing and navigating the online voting portal.

• Tuesday, October 6, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Ward 2: West Lincoln Public Library - Wellandport Branch - 5042 Canborough Rd. Wellandport. Staff will provide hands-on assistance with accessing and navigating the online voting portal.

• Wednesday, October 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Ward 3: Legion Villa - 171 Mill St., Smithville. A dedicated outreach session will be conducted at Legion Villa to assist residents in casting their ballots using the internet voting system, ensuring accessibility for individuals who may find it difficult or inconvenient to travel to the polls.

• Thursday, October 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Election Day

Election Day will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026, where voters will be able to attend a designated voting location to cast their ballot in person from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Locations:

• Ward 1: Caistor Central School, 1794 Caistor Centre Road
• Ward 2: Gainsborough Public School, 5459 Regional Road 20
• Ward 3: West Lincoln Community Centre, 177 West Street

If you are eligible to vote in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election but are unable to attend a poll, yourself, you may appoint another qualified elector as proxy to vote on your behalf.

You cannot appoint more than one voting proxy or act as a voting proxy for more than one other person. This restriction does not apply if the proxy and the other person are spouses or siblings of each other, parent and child, or grandparent and grandchild.

Proxy applications may be filed by appointment only, Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. (holidays excluded). Please call 905-957-3346 or email  after August 24 to make an appointment.

On in-person advanced voting days the Township Administrative Office and other designated locations will be open between noon and 5 p.m. for the purpose of considering and certifying proxy applications.

The Appointment of Voting Proxy form is available for pick-up, or you can download the form to print and complete at home, and have your voting proxy bring it to the poll with them.

Proxy forms will also be available at the advance polls and at the Township Administrative Office on Election Day. Please note that Election Officials at the voting station will not accept uncertified, faxed or photocopied proxy certificates. 

Most commonly requested by-laws:

Thinking about running in the 2026 Municipal Election? The City of Welland is hosting a Candidates Information Night on behalf of all Niagara municipalities to help you take that first step.

Whether you’re ready to run or just exploring the idea, this session will walk you through what to expect and how to prepare.

You’ll hear directly from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and have the chance to learn more about the process.

• Welland Community Centre
• 145 Lincoln St., Welland
• Wednesday, April 29, 2026
• 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)

If you’ve ever thought about getting involved and making a difference in your community, this is a great place to start.

To run as a candidate you must:

• reside in the municipality or, the owner or tenant of land in the municipality or the spouse of such person;
• be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old;
• not legally prohibited from voting; and
• not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office. 

Employees of the Township of West Lincoln who wish to run for Council must take an unpaid leave of absence before filing a nomination paper. Documentation proving the leave of absence is required.

In municipal elections in Ontario, candidates are not elected as members of a political party.

In West Lincoln, Councilors are elected to represent a Ward. For details on Township of West Lincoln wards, visit our ward map.

Candidates can register for nominations in-person by visiting the Office of the Clerk between May 1, 2026, and Aug. 21, 2026, during regular office hours (9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). On Aug. 21, 2026, nominations will be accepted until 2 p.m.

To file a nomination, you must provide:

• nomination paper (Form 1);
• declaration of qualifications (Form EL18a);
• at least 25 declarations of endorsement (Form 2) (if document is not viewable, try saving it first); 
• current acceptable identification showing name, qualifying address and signature; and
• the nomination filing fee paid by cash, credit or debit card, certified cheque or money order, payable to Township of West Lincoln. The filing fee is $100 for candidates running for Ward Councillor or School Board Trustee and $200 for candidates running for Mayor. Nomination fees are refunded to candidates once they file their required financial statement.

A person cannot raise or spend money on an election campaign until they have filed the nomination paper.

A nomination paper must be filed in person by either the candidate or an agent of the candidate. Candidates are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment to file their nomination by contacting clerk@westlincoln.ca or 905-957-3346.

The candidate’s declaration of qualification must be taken before a Commissioner of Oaths. If an agent is filing the nomination paper on behalf of a candidate, the candidate’s declaration of qualification must be commissioned by any commissioner of oaths, prior to the agent filing the paper. Candidates are required to show proof of identity and qualifying address within the Township of West Lincoln at the time of filing.

Under the Municipal Elections Act, the Clerk is required to reject or certify the nominations of candidates on or before 4 p.m. on Aug. 24, 2026. A candidate who wishes to withdraw their nomination, must notify the Clerk in writing by 2 p.m. on Aug. 21, 2026. The withdrawal must be original and may not be emailed, faxed or scanned. The candidate must submit a financial statement including all financial transactions up to the time of the withdrawal.

Anyone running for Council must submit the signatures from 25 voters endorsing the nomination. Each individual providing a signature must sign a declaration stating that they are eligible to vote in the municipality on the day that they signed the endorsement.

Learn more about the duties and responsibilities of elected officials and the resources available to them.

Council meeting schedule

Council meetings are held monthly on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, unless otherwise announced.

The Township of West Lincoln has four Standing Committees of Council that find ways to address issues in our community:

1. Corporate Services Committee
2. Community/Protective Services Committee
3. Growth and Sustainability Committee
4. Infrastructure Committee

Two Standing Committee meetings are held each month on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, unless otherwise announced.

Advisory Committees of Council

Council members may be appointed to represent West Lincoln on internal committees (i.e., West Lincoln Age Friendly Advisory Committee, West Lincoln Public Library Board) and external committees (i.e., NPEI Board, Niagara Transit Commission). Committee meetings are held at various times. As part of Council orientation, Council members will meet to decide which members will serve on the committees of their choice.

Salary for Mayor and Councillors 

The salaries for Councillors and Mayor are:

• Mayor (2026): $52,668.34 per annum
• Councillor (2026): $33,618.46 per annum

Rates are subject to change.

Additional stipends may be applicable for appointments to other boards or committees.

The nomination period runs from May 1, 2026, until 2 p.m. on August 21, 2026. Check back regularly as this section will be updated any time a nomination is filed.

Mayor

GANANN, Cheryl
Telephone: 905-818-0022

Ward 1

REHNER, Mike
REMOVED

TROMBETTA, Jason
Telephone: 905-961-0215
Email: ElectJasonTrombetta@gmail.com

WITTEVEEN, Albert
Email: albert.witteveen4@gmail.com

GRIFFIN, Paul
Email: paul.griffin957@gmail.com

BILAN, Danny
Email: dannybilan@hotmail.com

Ward 2

CHECHALK, Joann
Telephone: 416-567-7323
Email: jchechalk1@sympatico.ca

SCHUTTEN, Erin
Email: eschuttenward2@gmail.com 

DUNN, Edward
Email: Edloveswestlincoln@gmail.com

MACCHARLES, Gord
Telephone: 289-456-0041
Email: gordmaccharles4wl@gmail.com

BERGSMA, Marlene
Email: marlenebergsmawestlincoln@gmail.com 

Ward 3

MAYCHAK, Greg
Telephone: 905-536-1100
Email: maychak.greg@gmail.com

REILLY, William
Telephone: 905-308-5054
Email: wmreilly4wl@gmail.com

English Public Trustee (District School Board of Niagara)

Representing the Municipalities of Wainfleet and West Lincoln

FULFORD, Edward

MOLLICONE, John

English Separate Trustee (Niagara Catholic District School Board) (Register with the Town of Grimsby)

Representing the Municipalities of Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln

DUDOK, Lynn
Email: lynn@lynndudokcatholictrustee.ca
Website: lynndudokcatholictrustee.ca

PRINCE, Leanne
Email: leanneprince02@gmail.com 

SIMATOVIC, Matthew
WITHDRAWN

JOYNER, Alex
ajoyner@hotmail.ca

French Public Trustee (Conseil Scolaire Viamonde) (Register with the City of Hamilton)

MACALUSO, Sonia
sonia.macaluso@acfohamilton.com

GREGORY, Pierre
WITHDRAWN

French Separate Trustee (Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir) (Register with the City of St. Catharines)

CHARTRAND, Melinda
Email: chartrand.melinda@gmail.com 

Nominations will be certified by the Township Clerk on August 24, 2026.

Certified List of Candidates 2026

Mayor
(ACCLAIMED) 

GANANN, Cheryl 
Telephone: 905-818-0022

Ward 1

BILAN, Danny 
Email: danny.bilan4wl@gmail.com 

GRIFFIN, Paul
Email: paul.griffin957@gmail.com

TROMBETTA, Jason
Telephone: 905-961-0215
Email: ElectJasonTrombetta@gmail.com

WITTEVEEN, Albert
Email: albert.witteveen4@gmail.com

Ward 2

BERGSMA, Marlene
Email: marlenebergsmawestlincoln@gmail.com 

CHECHALK, Joann
Telephone: 416-567-7323
Email: jchechalk1@sympatico.ca

DUNN, Edward
Email: Edloveswestlincoln@gmail.com

MACCHARLES, Gord
Telephone: 289-456-0041
Email: gordmaccharles4wl@gmail.com

SCHUTTEN, Erin
Email: eschuttenward2@gmail.com 

Ward 3
(ACCLAIMED) 

MAYCHAK, Greg 
Telephone: 905-536-1100
Email: maychak.greg@gmail.com

REILLY, William
Telephone: 905-308-5054
Email: wmreilly4wl@gmail.com

English Public Trustee (District School Board of Niagara)

Representing the Municipalities of Wainfleet and West Lincoln

FULFORD, Edward

MOLLICONE, John

English Separate Trustee (Niagara Catholic District School Board) (Register with the Town of Grimsby)

Representing the Municipalities of Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln

DUDOK, Lynn
Email: lynn@lynndudokcatholictrustee.ca
Website: lynndudokcatholictrustee.ca

JOYNER, Alex
Email: ajoyner@hotmail.ca

PRINCE, Leanne
Email: leanneprince02@gmail.com 

French Public Trustee (Conseil Scolaire Viamonde)
(ACCLAIMED) 

MACALUSO, Sonia
sonia.macaluso@acfohamilton.com

French Separate Trustee (Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir)
(ACCLAIMED) 

CHARTRAND, Melinda 
Email: chartrand.melinda@gmail.com 

All candidates who participate in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election must file a financial statement (Form 4) by March 30, 2027. This statement details the income and expenses incurred during the candidate's campaign. All financial statements are public documents and are retained by the Clerk until the new council takes office following the next election. The Municipal Elections Act states the Clerk must make financial statements available at no charge for viewing on a website as soon as possible after the document is filed.

If a financial statement was not submitted, the Clerk issues a Notice of Default to the candidate and notifies Council. Candidates in default are ineligible to be elected or appointed to any office to which The Act applies until after the next regular election has taken place.

Section 88.23(3c) of the Municipal Elections Act requires that in the case of a default, the Clerk make available to the public the name of the candidate and a description of the nature of the default.

An accessibility report will be compiled upon the completion of the Township of West Lincoln's 2026 Municipal and School Board Election.

Sections 88.23(4) and (5) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 requires the Clerk/Returning Officer to report publicly on all candidates in an election and indicate whether each candidate has complied with the financial statement filing requirements under Section 88.25.

You're eligible to register as a third party advertiser if you are:

Corporations

If you’re registering on behalf of a corporation you must provide:

An individual, corporation or trade union must register with the Township Clerk to be a third party advertiser in a municipality. Being registered in a municipality allows the third party to advertise to the voters in that municipality. A third party advertiser can support or oppose any candidate or candidates who will be voted on by the people in that municipality. This includes candidates running for local council, school trustee and candidates running for offices on an upper tier council. 

Third party registrations may be filed in the Township of West Lincoln Clerk Office, 318 Canborough Street, Smithville. A third party must be qualified at the time of filing the registration. 

To advertise in more than one municipality, you must register in each municipality you want to advertise. 

There is no registration fee for third party advertisers.  

A third-party advertisement is a message in any medium (billboard, newspaper, radio, other materials, etc.) paid for by an individual, corporation or trade union that supports, promotes or opposes a candidate or a “yes” or “no” vote on a question on the ballot.

Third party advertising does not include issues-based advertising so groups that do public outreach can continue their issued-based advocacy work throughout a municipal election period.

These types of ads are paid for by a third party group, not the candidates themselves.

Any eligible individual, corporation or trade union that intends to spend money on advertising must register as a third party advertiser.

Third party advertisers must register with the Municipality in order to advertise during the municipal election.

The campaign period begins on the day the individual, corporation or trade union registers with the municipality and ends on December 31 in the case of a regular election.

Registered third parties must identify themselves and provide mandatory information on all advertising.

A contribution shall not be made to or accepted by an individual, corporation or trade union in relation to third party advertisements that appear during an election in a municipality, or made to or accepted by an individual acting under his, her, their or its direction, unless the individual, corporation or trade union is a registered third party in relation to the election in the municipality.

No contribution shall be made to or accepted outside the campaign period.

Nomination period begins for candidates.

First day an individual, union or corporation can file notice of registration as a third-party advertiser. Third party advertisers have until Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, to register.

The campaign period begins on Friday, May 1, 2026, or whenever a candidate files a nomination paper, whichever is later. Candidates are not permitted to accept a contribution or incur an expense until nominations open and they have registered to be a candidate.

Last day for a candidate to file nomination papers or withdraw their nomination. Nominations or withdrawal cannot be accepted after 2 p.m.

The Clerk will examine and certify all nominations by 4 p.m. and declare candidate(s) elected by acclamation. This date is subject to additional nominations being required.

Voters being appointed as proxies can apply for their proxy voting certificate after 4 p.m.

If the number of nominations filed for an office and certified is less than the number of persons to be elected to the office, additional nominations can be filed at the Office of the Clerk on Wednesday, Aug. 26, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

A candidate who wishes to withdraw their additional nomination must notify the Clerk in writing before 2 p.m.

The Clerk will examine and certify any additional nominations by 4 p.m. and declare the candidate(s) elected by acclamation.

The voters’ list will be made available to certified candidates, upon request.

Individuals may make an application to revise the voters’ list until election day.

The Clerk will provide the certificate of maximum campaign spending limits to all certified candidates and third-party advertisers.

Online voting will be available starting at 9 a.m. on Oct. 1 and ending at 5 p.m. on Oct. 20.

The Township is holding a series of voter outreach centres to support residents who may face barriers to participating in the election, particularly through the internet voting method.

Find details and locations under Voting Options.

In-person advance polls are being held at the West Lincoln Community Centre on Oct. 16, 6 to 9 p.m. and Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Polling locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Clerk will declare official election results and post them to the Township website.

The 2022-2026 term of office ends.

New Council term begins.

Mayor and Councillors will be sworn in at the West Lincoln Community Centre (details to follow).

Last day for candidates and registered third party advertisers to provide written notice of a deficit and the continuation of their campaign period.

Last day for candidates and registered third party advertisers to file initial financial statements and auditors report (if applicable).

Last day of the 90-day period after the initial filing date for an elector to apply for a compliance audit of a candidate or registered third party advertiser's initial financial statement.