Are you interested in running for office?
Explore the topics below to learn more about the roles and responsibilites of elected officials, as well as additional information about the election process.
Holding municipal office during the 4-year term (2026-2030) represents a significant time commitment and responsibility.
Regular Council Meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month, and Regular Committee of the Whole Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month. Meetings begin at 6:00 pm and are held in the Council Chambers at Sidney Town Hall.
In addition to attending regular Council and Committee of the Whole meetings, Council members serve on various external committees, boards and commissions. It is essential that elected officials understand meeting procedures, as per the Town’s Council Procedure Bylaw, and are prepared to discuss and make decisions on agenda items. Council is the governing body of the municipality and is responsible for the delivery of local services and making decisions for the betterment of the community.
Council members are expected to attend meetings in-person, however there are opportunities to attend electronically as required. If a member is absent from Council Meetings for a period of 60 consecutive days, or 4 consecutive regularly scheduled Council meetings, whichever is the longer time period, the Council member is disqualified from holding office, unless due to illness or a temporary leave of absence.
Elected officials are required to comply with a Code of Conduct – to conduct themselves with integrity, accountability, respect, and leadership and collaboration. Council members are also subject to conflict of interest rules and must not participate in discussions that are of a direct or in-direct pecuniary (financial) or non-pecuniary (bias) interest. Also, as many duties are performed in the public eye, aspects of an elected official’s life may become a matter of public interest, which may result in loss of privacy.
The Community Charter and Local Government Act are the primary legislations that provide the statutory framework for local governments in BC. It outlines the core areas of authority for municipalities, while maintaining a balance with the Provincial government’s authority.
The Mayor is the head of the municipality and, in addition to the responsibilities as a Council member, is responsible to: provide leadership to Council; establish standing committees; recommend bylaws and resolutions for consideration; communicate information to Council; reflect the will of Council and carry out other duties on behalf of the Council; and preside at Council Meetings.
Every Council member has the responsibility to: consider the well-being and interests of the municipality and its community; contribute to the development and evaluation of the policies and programs of the municipality; participate in Council meetings, Committee meetings and meetings of other bodies to which the member is appointed; and carry out other duties assigned by the Council.
In recognition of the time and energy they devote to their community, Council members receive the following annual remuneration:
- Mayor: $47,314 (2026 rate); $51,663 (2027 rate)
- Councillor: $18,899 (2026 rate); $22,215 (2027 rate)
Participation in the Town benefit plans (i.e. extended health, dental, group life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment) is also available to Council.
If you are interested in serving on Council and would like to learn more, a Candidate Information Session will be held in the lead up to the nomination period. Information about the event will be posted here when the details are confirmed.
If you have any questions regarding the office of the Saanich School Board No. 63, please contact the School District directly:
- Phone: 250-652-7300
- Email: inquires@saanichschools.ca
Candidates running for the office of Town of Sidney Mayor and Councillor and Saanich School District No. 63 School Trustee must meet the following qualifications:
- 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
- a Canadian citizen;
- a resident of BC for at least 6 months (March 10, 2026) immediately prior to filing nomination documents; and
- not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in an election in BC or being nominated for, being elected to or holding office, or be otherwise disqualified by law.
A prospective candidate officially becomes a candidate when they have submitted all the required information in the nomination package and has been declared a candidate by the Chief Election Officer.
Nomination packages will be made available on this page and for pick up at Sidney Town Hall on July 27, 2026.
Prospective candidates must be nominated by two eligible electors in Sidney. There is no fee for submitting your nomination documents.
Nomination documents must be filed with the Chief Election Officer at Sidney Town Hall during the period from Tuesday, September 1 at 9:00 am to Friday, September 11, 2026 at 4:00 pm.
Nomination documents can be submitted by:
- Mail or drop off: 2440 Sidney Avenue, Sidney BC, V8L 1Y7
- Email: admin@sidney.ca
Please make an appointment with the Chief Election Officer to witness your signature and ensure that the required documentation is provided by emailing admin@sidney.ca or by calling 250-656-1139.
Please refer to this webpage for any updates or amendments.
At the close of the nomination period, the Chief Election Officer will make a Declaration of Candidates at 4:00 pm on Friday, September 11, 2026 at Town Hall.
Subsequently, at 4:00 pm on Monday, September 21, 2026 at Town Hall, the Chief Election Officer will make a Declaration of Election by Voting or a Declaration of Candidates Elected by Acclamation.
Candidates may appoint scrutineers to observe the conduct of voting and counting proceedings. One scrutineer (per used ballot box) is permitted to be in attendance on voting days. Scrutineers must sign a declaration upon entering the voting place and must ensure not to disrupt or interfere with the voting proceedings.
It is important for candidates, and their canvassers, to be familiar with and abide by the regulations respecting election signs to avoid any bylaw infractions or election offences.
Town of Sidney Sign Bylaw No. 2058
- signs must not be posted on public property
- signs must not exceed 1.5 square meters (4 x 4 ft)
- signs can be posted on private property (upon approval of the property owner) after the candidate’s nomination documents have been filed with the Chief Election Officer
- signs must be removed by the end of the day on Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Additional information can be found in section 4.6 of Sign Bylaw No. 2058.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Policy
- signs may be posted on provincial highway rights-of-way only during the campaign period, beginning on September 19, 2026
- signs must be removed by the end of the day on Monday, October 19, 2026
Additional information can be found on the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s website.
Signs on Voting Days
Pursuant to section 163 of the Local Government Act, a person must not canvass or solicit votes or display or post election advertising within 100 meters of a building where voting proceedings are being conducted at the time. Below are maps illustrating the two restricted areas on voting days:
- Town Hall – Advance Voting Days on Wednesday, October 7 and Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Mary Winspear Centre – General Voting Day on Saturday, October 17, 2026
Candidates developing election campaigns should be aware of the restrictions that may apply to campaigning and, in particular, the regulations under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act (LECFA). Elections BC is responsible for managing and enforcing financing disclosure requirements and election advertising provisions for all local government elections in BC.
A candidate must appoint one individual as a financial agent. If one is not appointed, the candidate is deemed to be their own financial agent. A financial agent must open one or more campaign accounts at a savings institution before incurring an election expense. This account must be used exclusively for the purposes of the election campaign.
If you wish to have a campaign office with a physical location within the Town, you must apply for a Business Licence, but you would be exempt from any fee.
Financial Disclosure Requirements
Candidates are required to make public an account of the campaign contributions they received and election expenses they incurred in the form of Campaign Financing Disclosure Statement. This statement must be filed within 90 days of General Voting Day. Statements will be made available on the Elections BC website for public inspection. A candidate who does not file their disclosure statements by the deadline may be disqualified from holding office and from being nominated for or elected to a local government office until after the next general local election.
Third Party Advertising
There are campaign financing rules for third party advertising sponsors. Third party advertising sponsor is an individual or organization that conducts election advertising independently from any candidate or elector organization. Third party advertising includes advertising for or against a candidate or elector organization.
Contact Information
Any questions regarding campaign financing and advertising are to be directed to Elections BC:
- Phone: 1-800-661-8683
- Email: electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca
Campaign Financing Disclosure Statements from past elections are available on Elections BC’s website.
Contact Information
If you have any questions about the upcoming election, please contact: