Becoming a Candidate

All candidates must follow the nomination process outlined below. The nomination forms have been updated to reflect changes to the upcoming municipal election under the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act.

Key information for Council candidates can be found in The 2025 Candidate Guide to Municipal Elections.

Important Dates
Campaign Period	Nomination Period
The campaign period for the 2025 Municipal Election runs from October 31, 2024 to December 31 2025.	The nomination period for the 2025 Municipal Election runs from January 1 to September 22, 2025.

Candidate Nomination Packages

Important information for RMWB Council candidates can be found in the RMWB Mayor and Councillor Nomination Package.

School trustee candidates should consult the School Board Trustee Nomination Package. 

Candidate Nomination Process

The nomination period for the 2025 municipal election runs from Jan. 1, 2025 to 12 p.m. (noon) on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.

To file a nomination, follow the steps below:

1. Meet all eligibility requirements
To be nominated as a candidate in the 2025 General Election, you must be eligible to vote, therefore you must be: at least 18 years old; a Canadian citizen; a resident of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the ward they are running in for at least 6 consecutive months immediately preceding nomination day, September 22, 2025 (that being March 22, 2025); and not otherwise ineligible or disqualified. There may be other reasons you are ineligible to run as a candidate – refer to the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA).
2. Complete and file your Notice of Intent
Anyone who intends to run as a candidate in the 2025 Municipal Election must submit a notice of intent. Prospective candidates can submit their notice of intent from now until Sept. 22, 2025. Candidates who plan to run in the 2025 Election can only accept campaign contributions and incur campaign expenses once their notice of intent is complete and they are added to the Register of Candidates. How to Submit your Notice of Intent Fill out the Notice of Intent in full. Notice of Intent (pdf) Submit the completed form to the Returning Officer in one of the following ways: Email: elections@rmwb.ca In-Person during regular business hours Mon - Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Attention: RMWB Elections Team, Legislative Services, 7th Floor, Jubilee Building, 9909 Franklin Avenue, T9H 2K4 Mail/Courier: Attention: RMWB Elections Team, Legislative Services, Jubilee Building, 9909 Franklin Avenue, T9H 2K4 Acknowledging receipt of Notice of Intent Following receipt of a notice of intent, RMWB elections will confirm within 3 business days if the notice of intent meets legislated requirements. If the notice meets requirements, the candidate’s name and information will be added to the Register of Candidates within 2 business days. Note: It is a candidate’s responsibility to notify the Elections Office if there are any changes to the information provided on this form.
3a. Complete Form 4 - Candidate Nomination and Acceptance Form
RWMB Council Form 4 - Mayor Form 4 - Councillor Fort McMurray School Districts Form 4 - Catholic School Trustee Form 4 - Public School Trustee How to Guide for assistance in completing Form 4 – Nomination Paper and Candidate’s Acceptance
3b. Complete Form 5 - Candidate Financial Information
Candidates disclose information on where their campaign records will be maintained and their campaign bank account information. RWMB Council Form 5 - Mayor Form 5 - Councillor Fort McMurray School Districts Form 5 - Catholic School Trustee Form 5 - Public School Trustee How to Guide for assistance in completing Form 5 – Candidate Financial Information
3c. Complete the information disclosure consent form
Candidates give contact information to the RMWB Elections team and provide contact information they would like shared with the public on the RMWB Elections webpages. Candidate Consent for Disclosure of Information
4. Prepare your deposit
When filing nomination papers for the position of Mayor or Councillor, you must pay the required deposit of $250 for the position of Mayor and $100 for Councillor. The required deposit can be paid by cash, certified cheque, money order, debit card or credit card. Payments by credit card or debit card can only be made at in-person appointments. Do not send cash in the mail.
5. File your nomination forms
Make an appointment: Nomination papers and deposits can be filed during regular business hours Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in person with the Elections Office by making an appointment. For more information and to make arrangements to file your nomination: Email elections@rmwb.ca Call 780-743-7000 Mail / Courier your completed forms and deposit: Completed nomination papers and deposit can be sent by mail or courier to the Elections Office at: Legislative Services Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo 9909 Franklin Avenue Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2K4 Additional information Form 4 must be commissioned by a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public in and for Alberta. The deposit must be paid by certified cheque or money order payable to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Do not send cash. If you have filed via email the Elections Office will acknowledge your email and confirm that you have been accepted as a candidate within 3 business days. If you have filed your nomination papers via mail or courier, confirmation may take up to 5 business days from the date of receipt of your papers.

1. Meet all eligibility requirements

To be nominated as a candidate in the 2025 General Election, you must be eligible to vote, therefore you must be:

at least 18 years old;
a Canadian citizen;
a resident of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the ward they are running in for at least 6 consecutive months immediately preceding nomination day, September 22, 2025 (that being March 22, 2025); and
not otherwise ineligible or disqualified.

There may be other reasons you are ineligible to run as a candidate – refer to the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA).

2. Complete and file your Notice of Intent

Anyone who intends to run as a candidate in the 2025 Municipal Election must submit a notice of intent. Prospective candidates can submit their notice of intent from now until Sept. 22, 2025.

Candidates who plan to run in the 2025 Election can only accept campaign contributions and incur campaign expenses once their notice of intent is complete and they are added to the Register of Candidates.

How to Submit your Notice of Intent

Fill out the Notice of Intent in full.
Notice of Intent (pdf)
Submit the completed form to the Returning Officer in one of the following ways:

Email: elections@rmwb.ca

In-Person during regular business hours Mon - Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
Attention: RMWB Elections Team, Legislative Services, 7th Floor, Jubilee Building, 9909 Franklin Avenue, T9H 2K4

Mail/Courier:
Attention: RMWB Elections Team, Legislative Services, Jubilee Building, 9909 Franklin Avenue, T9H 2K4

Acknowledging receipt of Notice of Intent

Following receipt of a notice of intent, RMWB elections will confirm within 3 business days if the notice of intent meets legislated requirements. If the notice meets requirements, the candidate’s name and information will be added to the Register of Candidates within 2 business days.

Note: It is a candidate’s responsibility to notify the Elections Office if there are any changes to the information provided on this form.

3a. Complete Form 4 - Candidate Nomination and Acceptance Form

RWMB Council

Form 4 - Mayor

Form 4 - Councillor

Fort McMurray School Districts

Form 4 - Catholic School Trustee

Form 4 - Public School Trustee

How to Guide for assistance in completing Form 4 – Nomination Paper and Candidate’s Acceptance

3b. Complete Form 5 - Candidate Financial Information

Candidates disclose information on where their campaign records will be maintained and their campaign bank account information.

RWMB Council

Form 5 - Mayor

Form 5 - Councillor

Fort McMurray School Districts

Form 5 - Catholic School Trustee

Form 5 - Public School Trustee

How to Guide for assistance in completing Form 5 – Candidate Financial Information

3c. Complete the information disclosure consent form

Candidates give contact information to the RMWB Elections team and provide contact information they would like shared with the public on the RMWB Elections webpages.

Candidate Consent for Disclosure of Information

4. Prepare your deposit

When filing nomination papers for the position of Mayor or Councillor, you must pay the required deposit of $250 for the position of Mayor and $100 for Councillor.

The required deposit can be paid by cash, certified cheque, money order, debit card or credit card. Payments by credit card or debit card can only be made at in-person appointments. Do not send cash in the mail.

5. File your nomination forms

Make an appointment:

Nomination papers and deposits can be filed during regular business hours Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in person with the Elections Office by making an appointment.

For more information and to make arrangements to file your nomination:

Email elections@rmwb.ca
Call 780-743-7000

Mail / Courier your completed forms and deposit:

Completed nomination papers and deposit can be sent by mail or courier to the Elections Office at:

Legislative Services

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

9909 Franklin Avenue

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2K4

Additional information

Form 4 must be commissioned by a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public in and for Alberta.

The deposit must be paid by certified cheque or money order payable to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Do not send cash.

If you have filed via email the Elections Office will acknowledge your email and confirm that you have been accepted as a candidate within 3 business days.

If you have filed your nomination papers via mail or courier, confirmation may take up to 5 business days from the date of receipt of your papers.