Could You Be Our Next Mayor or Councillor?
If you are willing to invest your time to understand the issues put before Council and make decisions that benefit the community as a whole, not only for the present but for the future, you should consider running for Office.
Below are a few steps to help you get started:
- Fill out your nomination form. Your form must be signed by two people who are eligible to vote in the election. For each nominator, the form must include that person's name, street address and signature.
- By completing the form, you declare that you are eligible for nomination and not subject to any disqualifications set out in the Local Authorities Elections Act.
- The completed form is to be filed with the Returning Officer at 4915 48th Street. The deadline for nominations is at 3:00 p.m. on September 21, 2026.
- Be sure that your nomination form is filed on time and is accurate. No late forms will be accepted.
- Pursuant to s.46(1) of the Local Authorities Elections Act, where more than the required number of candidates are nominated, any person nominated may, within 48 hours after the close of nominations, withdraw his or her name as a candidate by filing a written notice of withdrawal with the Returning Officer.
Do you have time?
The demands on your time will be heavy. You will be elected to a four-year term of office, which begins on Monday, November 2, 2026.
During your term, you will be required to:
- attend regular meetings of Council which are scheduled for the 4th Wednesday of the month at 12:05 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chamber
- attend meetings of the Governance and Priorities Committee which is a Committee of the Whole. The Governance and Priorities Committee meets on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Wednesday each month at 12:05 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber
- attend meetings of other boards and agencies to which you are appointed as Council's representative
- attend conferences, conventions, seminars, and workshops for training and discussion
- attend social and other events promoting your municipality
- You will also need to spend time reading and talking with residents, your colleagues on City Council and others. This will all be part of the preparation for meetings and will help you to make informed decisions
What's Involved?
As a member of City Council, you will have the opportunity to influence the future of Yellowknife. City Council sets priorities for the corporation through the Council's Strategic Plan and the Budgeting process, and provides governance through the adoption of policies and by-laws.
Individual members of Council do not have the power to commit Yellowknife to any expenditure or to direct the activities of City employees. Your power as a member of Council depends on your ability to persuade the other members of Council to adopt your view.
Decisions of Council are made, by resolutions in accordance with Council Procedures By-law No. 5119, at Council Meetings.
You are eligible to stand as a candidate if:
- you are a Canadian citizen;
- you are at least 18 years of age;
- you have, for at least twelve consecutive months immediately preceding the day nominations close, been ordinarily resident in the electoral district; and
- you are not disqualified by sections 18(2), 19 and 20 of the Local Authorities Election Act.
You are not eligible to be a candidate if:
- you are a Judge, Territorial Judge, Youth Justice Court Judge, or Justice of the Peace;
- you are a member of the Legislative Assembly;
- you are a full-time permanent employee of the City;
- you are an election officer;
- you have been convicted of a major election offence under the Local Authorities Elections Act within the three years immediately preceding election day; or
- you have been convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for five years or more within the three years immediately preceding election day, or whose imprisonment as a result of the conviction terminates within the three years immediately preceding election day;
- you are an assessor or auditor of the City of Yellowknife;
- you are personally indebted to the City for a sum exceeding $500.00 for more than 90 days (other than taxes described below);
- you have a controlling interest in a private or public corporation that is indebted to the municipal corporation for a sum exceeding $500 for more than 90 days (other than the taxes described below);
- you have not paid all of your municipal taxes before December 31 of the year in which the taxes are levied; or
- you have been in a conflict under the Conflict of Interest Act and a Court Order is prohibiting you from becoming a candidate.
It is the responsibility of each candidate to verify their eligibility for nomination.
| If you are Elected, here are other key dates to keep in mind: | ||
| Monday, November 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Swearing In Ceremony |
| Wednesday, November 4 | 12:05 p.m. | GPC meeting |
| Saturday, November 7 | 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. | Council Orientation |
| Thursday, November 12 | 12:05 p.m. | GPC meeting |
| Saturday, November 14 | 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. | Council Orientation |
| Wednesday, November 18 | 12:05 p.m. | GPC meeting |
| Wednesday, November 25 | 12:05 p.m. | Council meeting |
| Monday, November 30 | 5:30 p.m. | Special GPC meeting (Budget) |
| Tuesday, December 1 | 5:30 p.m. | Special GPC meeting (Budget) |
| Wednesday, December 2 | 12:05 p.m. 5:30 p.m. | GPC meeting Special GPC meeting (Budget) |
| Thursday, December 3 | 5:30 p.m. | Special GPC Meeting (Budget) *TBD |
For more information, please get in touch with the Office of the Returning Officer at @email.