Municipal Election
2026 Municipal Election – Save the Date!
The next municipal election will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The Preliminary Voters List is currently being processed in preparation of the upcoming election. If you missed the deadline using Elections Ontario's online tool, you can visit the Township of Essa Administration Centre to complete a form and be added to the Voters List. Please contact us at 705-424-9917 ext. 116 or 101 for more information.
- Make sure you're ready for Election Day!
Below is the Certified List of Candidates who have filed their nomination papers for the 2026 Municipal & School Board Election. Nominations were certified on Monday, August 24, 2026.
- Certified List of Candidates - Essa Township
- Declaration of Acclamation - Township of Essa Council Positions
- Declaration of Acclamation - EP (Simcoe County District School Board)
- Declaration of Acclamation - ES (Simcoe Muskoka District School Board)
- Certified List of Candidates - French Language School Board Trustees
The Unofficial List of Candidates will be updated daily after 3:00 p.m., as required, beginning May 1, 2026.
Municipal:
| Office | Candidate Name | Address | Phone Number | |
| Mayor | Sandie Macdonald | 61 King Street, Angus | sandie4essamayor2026@outlook.com | 705-424-6844 |
| Mayor | Francesco Lo Greco | 58 Blanchard Cres, Angus | infofrancescologreco@gmail.com | 416-574-0687 |
| Deputy Mayor |
ACCLAIMED Michael Smith |
8848 6th Line, Utopia | essacouncilmichael@gmail.com | 705-794-3230 |
| Councillor Ward 1 | Pieter Kiezebrink | 9077 Don Ross Drive, Angus | pieter_kiezebrink@hotmail.com | 705-730-3598 |
| Councillor Ward 1 | Vincent Ivanyi | 84 Queen Street, Angus | vivanyiessa@gmail.com | 705-623-3772 |
| Councillor Ward 2 |
ACCLAIMED Henry Sander |
8304 10th Line, Barrie | 705-726-7799 | |
| Councillor Ward 3 |
ACCLAIMED Liana Maltby |
6070 County Road 21, Egbert | lianamaltby@gmail.com | 705-733-6502 |
School Board Trustee:
| Office | Name | Address | Phone Number | |
| English Public |
ACCLAIMED Brandy Rafeek |
7667 County Road 56, Utopia | brandyrafeek@gmail.com | 705-791-7009 |
| English Separate |
ACCLAIMED Janice Hutchison |
hutchisonjanice@hotmail.com | ||
| French Public | Eric Lapointe | Barrie | ericlapointe@yahoo.com | 705-241-8909 |
| French Public | Rachael Golem | Orangeville | 647-884-3044 | |
| French Separate | Innocent Legrand | Bradford West Gwillimbury | wnibl@yahoo.com | 416-779-4241 |
| French Separate | Donald Blais | Bradford West Gwillumbury | donaldjblais@bell.net | 416-688-4009 |
| Nomination Start Date | May 1, 2026 |
| Nomination End Date | August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. |
| Voting Day | October 26, 2026 |
| New Term of Council Begins | November 15, 2026 |
| End of Campaign Period | December 31, 2026 |
| Last day to file Initial Financial Statements and Auditor Reports | March 30, 2027 |
The next Municipal and School Board Election will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Eligibility to run:
- Be a Canadian Citizen
- Be at least 18 years of age on voting day
- Be a resident, or own/rent property in the Township, or be the spouse of such a person; and
- Is not prohibited from voting under section 17(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, or otherwise, by law.
Essa Council consists of the following positions:
- Mayor
- Deputy Mayor
- Councillor Ward 1
- Councillor Ward 2
- Councillor Ward 3
School Board Trustee elections are also held on October 26, 2026. Nominations for school board trustee are accepted by the Clerk of the municipality with the most electors representing the school board district.
For the 2026 Election, the municipalities responsible for each school board trustee election are:
- Simcoe County District School Board (English Public) – Township of Essa
- Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (English Separate) – Town of New Tecumseth
- Counseil Scolaire Viamonde (French Public) - City of Barrie
- Counseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir (French Separate) - City of Barrie
The Township of Essa is committed to ensuring that the 2026 Municipal Election is accessible to all electors. This plan outlines the measures the Township will implement to identify, remove, and prevent barriers throughout the election process, consistent with the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
The 2026 Municipal Election Accessibility Plan is a living document and may be updated as new best practices and accessibility improvements are identified and has been endorsed by the Township of Essa's Healthy Accessible Parks and Community Committee
Questions?
Should you have any questions, regarding the information on this website or the 2026 Municipal Election, please contact:
Krista Pascoe, Manager of Legislative Services/Clerk
Township of Essa
5786 County Road 21
Utopia, ON L0M 1T0
705-424-9917 ext. 133
kpascoe@essatownship.on.ca
