In the 2026 River District Board of Management Election, eligible Members will be able to vote by paper ballot for Board Directors.

The election will be held in the City Hall Council Chambers (808 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound) from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2026. An Advance Voting Day will be held in the City Hall Council Chambers from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

Voter Eligibility

A person is entitled to be a Member for the 2026 River District Board of Management Election and vote if, on Voting Day, they:

• are assessed, on the last returned assessment roll, with respect to rateable property in the River District that is in a commercial property class prescribed by the City, and tenants of such property; and
• are at least 18 years of age.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I on the Voters' List? 

Beginning on September 25, 2026 and until 8:00 p.m. on November 9, 2026, eligible Members can schedule an appointment with the Election Manager to determine if they are on the Voters' List by emailing riverdistrictelection@owensound.ca or by calling 519-376-4440 ext. 1235. 

Who am I voting for?

Unless acclaimed, you will be voting for eight (8) Director offices.

The list of registered candidates can be found under the Registered Candidates accordion at the bottom of this webpage.

How can I vote?

Members will be able to cast their vote in person in the City Hall Council Chambers from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2026 (Voting Day) or in person at City Hall from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026 (Advance Voting Day).

If, for any reason, a Member is unable to personally cast their ballot on Advance Voting Day or Voting Day, the Member can appoint a voting proxy to cast a ballot on their behalf. The voting proxy must attend City Hall in person on Advance Voting Day or Voting Day to cast the ballot. The member must complete "Form RD13 - Appointment of Voting Proxy" and the voting proxy must submit this form to the Election Manager for certification prior to Voting Day.

If a Member is a legal entity, it is entitled to one vote regardless of the number of shareholders or partners that the Member has. The legal entity must nominate in writing one delegate to vote on its behalf by completing "Form RD14 - Nomination of Delegate on Behalf of Corporation"and the delegate must submit this form to the Election Manager or Assistant Election Officer at the time the ballot for that Member is requested. 

The Election Manager has developed a full set of procedures for the River District Board of Management election.

What do I need to vote? 

Members need to provide satisfactory identification in accordance with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing list of "Acceptable Documents for Voter Identification" and the identification provided must match the Member's qualifying address. If the Member does not have satisfactory identification, then they must complete and submit "Form RD19 - Declaration of Identity".

Members also need to have a Voter Information Card (VIC) in order to vote. VICs will be sent via Canada Post Lettermail to everyone on the Voters' List on Friday, October 16, 2026. Members can vote without a VIC if:

• they request to be added to the Voters' List on Advance Voting Day or Voting Day and their application is approved by the Election Manager or Assistant Election Officer (Form RD15),
• they do not receive a VIC in the mail (Form RD18),
• they lose or misplace their VIC (Form RD18),
• they forget their VIC at home (Form RD18), or
• they claim their VIC has been stolen and/or already voted by someone else (Form RD17).

For each of the above scenarios, the corresponding form must be completed and submitted to the Election Manager or Assistant Election Officer:

• Form RD15 - Application to Amend Voters' List
• Form RD17 - Application to Vote (Voter Information Card Used by an Imposter)
• Form RD18 - Application for Reissue of a Voter Information Card

Can I vote more than once if I own or lease more than one property?

No. Every Member is permitted to one vote regardless of the number of properties that the Member may own or lease in the River District.

Should a Member receive more than one Voter Information Card (VIC), they may only vote once and must return the other VIC to the Election Manager or Assistant Election Officer.

When will I receive my Voter Information Card?

Voter Information Cards (VICs) will be sent via Canada Post Lettermail to everyone on the Voters' List on Friday, October 16, 2026. The VIC will include information on where and how to vote. Members are recommended to bring their VIC with them to the Voting Place in order to experience a faster voting process.

What if I do not receive a Voter Information Card?

If you do not receive a Voter Information Card (VIC) in the mail, please contact the Election Manager by emailing riverdistrictelection@owensound.ca or by calling 519-376-4440 ext. 1235 to schedule an appointment. You must complete "Form RD18 - Application for Reissue of a Voter Information Card"and submit it at the appointment along with providing either identification that includes your qualifying address or a completed "Form RD19 - Declaration of Identity" to receive your VIC.

What if I require assistance voting?

The Election Manager or Assistant Election Officer may provide assistance on Advance Voting Day or Voting Day if requested by the Member, only after the appropriate oath has been taken.

Members may also bring a friend or interpreter with them to assist in voting after taking the appropriate oath.

Nominations for the 2026 River District Board of Management Election are open from Friday, August 28, 2026 to Friday, September 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Interested candidates are requested to make an appointment with the Election Manager to submit their nomination package by emailing riverdistrictelection@owensound.ca or by calling 519-376-4440 ext. 1235. All required forms are linked below or paper copies of the candidate package, including all necessary forms, are available for pickup at the front counter at City Hall.

Candidate Eligibility

A person is qualified to hold office as a Director of the River District Board of Management if they are at least 18 years of age and are:

• the owner or tenant of land in the City, or
• an employee of a business operating in the River District.

Download the Candidate Information Package by clicking the button below:

Board Information

The River District Board of Management has nine (9) Directors, eight (8) of which are elected at large by the Members to represent the River District Business Improvement Area. The Board holds a minimum of six (6) meetings per year on a bi-monthly basis starting in January that all Directors are expected to attend to ensure quorum.

The Board as a whole is responsible for:

• making decisions on policy affecting itself and the River District, and
• managing the affairs of itself and the River District

Every Director of the Board shall:

• exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office honestly, in good faith, and in the best interests of the River District,
• exercise the degree of care, diligence, and skill that a reasonable and prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances,
• follow the City's Code of Conduct,
• declare interests in accordance with the City's Procedural By-law,
• observe the laws, policies, and practices governing all matters related to confidentiality, privacy, and access to information, and
• act in accordance with applicable City policies including but not limited to the City's Purchasing By-law, Records Management By-law, Indemnification By-law, and Procedural By-law.

Sections 3.16 through 3.18 of the River District Constitution address Director remuneration and provide that no Director shall receive payment for services performed in their capacity as a member of the Board.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file a nomination package?

Nominations can be filed in person starting Friday, August 28, 2026 and ending Friday, September 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

To file your nomination package, please book an appointment with the Election Manager by emailing riverdistrictelection@owensound.ca or by calling 519-376-4440 ext. 1235. If you would prefer to submit your nomination package on Nomination Day (September 25), you may do so with the Election Manager at the front counter at City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

The following is required to file a nomination:

• Nomination Paper (Form RD1)
• Provide proof of identification as prescribed in O. Reg. 304/13 and proof of ownership or tenancy satisfactory to the Election Manager
• Release of Campaign Information (Form RD2)
• Voters' List Request and Declaration (Form RD3)

Once a candidate has filed their nomination, the candidate's name is added to the list of registered candidates, available under the Registered Candidates accordion at the bottom of this webpage.

When can I start campaigning?

Campaigning is not permitted until your nominaton package has been officially filed with the Election Manager. 

Can I put up signs?

Election campaign signs are not permitted to be erected. 

How do I withdraw my nomination?

Candidates may withdraw their nomination in person or by an agent by filing a "Form RD5 - Withdrawal of Nomination" with their original signature with the Election Manager prior to 2:00 p.m. on Nomination Day (Friday, September 25, 2026).

If you have difficulty with any of the forms, please contact the Election Manager at riverdistrictelection@owensound.ca or 519-376-4440 ext. 1235.

• Form RD1 - Nomination Paper
• Form RD2 - Release of Campaign Information
• Form RD3 - Voters' List Request and Declaration
• Form RD13 - Appointment of Voting Proxy
• Form RD14 - Nomination of Delegate on Behalf of Corporation
• Form RD15 - Application to Amend Voters' List
• Form RD16 - Declaration of Tenancy
• Form RD17 - Application to Vote (Voter Information Card Used by an Imposter)
• Form RD18 - Application for Re-Issue of a Voter Information Card
• Form RD19 - Declaration of Identity

• River District Board of Management Election Voting Procedures (coming soon)
• Candidate Information Package
• Nomination Package Reference Sheet (coming soon)
• River District Constitution
• Code of Conduct for Members of Council, Local Boards and Committees
• Agendas and minutes from past River District Board of Management meetings can be found on the City's Council, Committees, and River District Board webpage

This section will be updated with election news and notices as they are issued.

All Board election information and documents are available in various accessible formats or with communication support, on request.

The Election Manager will consult with the person making the request to determine the suitability of the format or communication support. The Election Manager will provide the accessible format in a timely manner and, at no additional cost. To request information in an alternate format, please contact the Election Manager by emailing riverdistrictelection@owensound.ca or by calling 519-376-4440 ext. 1235.

More information on the accessibility of the Board election can be found in Sections 53 through 61 of the River District Board of Management Election Voting Procedures manual.

Voting Place Accessibility

Advance Voting Day and Voting Day will both be held in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 808 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound.

There is a municipal parking lot located behind City Hall, and this includes two designated accessible parking spaces by the entrance doors. There is also on-street parking located along 2nd Avenue East, in front of City Hall. 

The back entrance to City Hall is level with the building and has automatic doors with push buttons. The front entrance to City Hall has a ramp with handrails leading up to the automatic doors with push buttons. Once inside, there is an accessible elevator to gain access to the Council Chambers.

Seating will be available in the voting area. Access to the voting booths will be level and will be wide enough to allow individuals using mobility aids to vote independently and secretly.

Persons with disabilities may be accompanied by a support person within the voting both, or the Election Manager or an Assistant Election Officer can assist a Member in casting their vote. The Election Manager or Assistant Election Officer will, in conjunction with the person with the disability, determine the extent to which they need assistance and the best way to provide assistance.

Nominations for the 2026 River District Board of Management Election are open from Friday, August 25, 2026 to Friday, September 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

As candidates are registered, they will be added below in alphabetical order with the contact information they have provided.