The 2025 Election for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo will be held on Oct. 20, 2025.
All candidates must follow the nomination process outlined below. The nomination forms have been updated to reflect recent changes by the Government of Alberta to the Local Authorities Elections Act.
For questions about running for RMWB Mayor or Councillor, please contact RMWB Elections at 780-743-7000 or elections@rmwb.ca.
Updated information on campaign finance, election advertising and rules for third parties will be available in the coming days.
Candidate Nomination Packages
RMWB Mayor and Councillor Nomination Package
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.| 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:
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
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 Fort McMurray School Districts Form 4 - Catholic School Trustee Form 4 - Public School Trustee
For assistance, please see the How to Guide for 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 Fort McMurray School Districts Form 5 - Catholic School Trustee Form 5 - Public School Trustee
For assistance, please see the How to Guide for 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. |
| 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:
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. |
Contact information for School Board Trustee Candidates
For questions or information about running for Public School Trustee, contact:
Fort McMurray Public School District No. 2833
231 Hardin Street
Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2G2
Tel: (780) 799-7900
For questions or information about running for Roman Catholic Separate School Trustee, contact:
Fort McMurray Roman Catholic Separate School Division
9809 Main Street
Fort McMurray, AB T9H 1T7
Tel: (780) 799-5700
Register of Candidates
|
Notice of Intent Filed |
Nomination Papers Filed |
Last Name |
First Name |
Local Jurisdiction |
Ward |
Office |
|
2025-01-08 |
Vardy |
Jennifer |
RMWB |
Councillor |
||
|
2025-01-13 |
Bowman |
Sandy |
RMWB |
Mayor |
||
|
2025-02-07 |
2025/02/07 |
Kindopp |
Christine |
RMWB |
1 |
Councillor |
Frequently Asked Questions
| How do I know if I’m eligible to run? |
|
Anyone considering running for office should confirm their eligibility as a first step. To be eligible, a prospective candidate must be:
It is a candidate’s responsibility to confirm eligibility before engaging in the nomination process. |
| What is the Register of Candidates? |
| The Register of Candidates is a record of all candidates who have given notice to RMWB Elections that they intend to seek nomination for office in the next general election, as required by the Local Authorities Election Act.
As RMWB Elections administers elections for Municipal Council and the Fort McMurray school districts, all candidates registered to run in these jurisdictions will be listed in the Register of Candidates. |
|
Is there a form to complete as a part of the notice of intent process? |
|
For candidates’ convenience, the RMWB Election team has provided a Notice of Intent form to assist prospective candidates in providing their notice of intent. |
|
Is submitting a notice of intent the same as submitting nomination forms? |
|
No. Submitting a notice of intent is one step in the process and does not mean you have been nominated and will appear on the ballot. Once a prospective candidate’s notice of intent submission is complete and they are added to the Register of Candidates, they can accept campaign contributions and incur campaign expenses. To become a nominated candidate and appear on the ballot, a candidate must complete the nomination process during the Nomination Period from Jan. 1 - Sept. 22, 2025. |
|
Is a deposit required to file a notice of intent with RMWB Elections? |
|
No, a deposit is not required when filing a notice of intent. |
Campaign Finance Information
Updated information on campaign finance and disclosure statements for the 2025 election will be made available on the campaign finance webpage in the coming weeks.
Key Election Dates
|
Date |
Event |
|
Oct. 31, 2024 - Dec. 31, 2025 |
Campaign Period The campaign period for the 2025 RMWB Election runs from Oct. 31, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2025. 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. |
|
Jan. 1 - Sept. 22, 2025 |
Nomination Period To become a nominated candidate and appear on the ballot, a candidate must complete the nomination process and file all necessary forms and paperwork during the Nomination Period from January 1 to September 22, 2025. |
|
Sept. 22, 2025 |
Nomination Day All required nomination forms and paperwork must be submitted to RMWB by noon (12 p.m.) on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. |
|
Oct. 20, 2025 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. |
Expected Election Day Unofficial results will be released as they become available after the voting stations close. The election date may change. |
Time Commitment for Mayor and Councillors
|
How much time does the Mayor typically spend on Council business each week? |
|
The Mayor’s term of office is four years. The job is a full-time position, considering the time commitment required. |
|
How much time do Councillors typically spend on Council business each week? |
|
A Councillor’s term of office is four years. Serving as a Councillor is considered a part-time position, though there are often additional time commitments besides meetings. It’s expected that Councillors will be required to spend a minimum of 20 - 25 hours per week on Council business during the 2025-29 term of office:
|
|
Additional time commitments for members of Council |
|
In addition to Council meetings, Councillors may be appointed to Boards and Committees, attend conferences and go to community events:
|
| Are Councillors able to remain on Municipal Boards and Committees? |
|
If you were appointed as a public member to a Municipal Board or Committee, you would be deemed resigned if elected to Council. There are a number of Municipal Boards and Committees that have Council representation, which may be as a voting member or a non-voting Council liaison. The Candidate Information Guide contains information on Council representation on the various committees. For further information on Council Appointed Boards and Committees, please visit www.rmwb.ca/boards. In accordance with governing legislation, elected officials cannot be members of tribunals – Assessment Review Board, Subdivision and Development Appeal Board and Community Standards Appeal Committee |
|
Post-election mandatory training and orientation |
|
There are additional time commitment obligations for all elected officials immediately following the election, such as:
|
Time Commitment for School Trustees
The term of office for school trustees is four years. Prospective candidates are encouraged to learn more about the time commitment and duties required of a trustee for their school district:
Fort McMurray Public School District
Fort McMurray Catholic School District
This information is intended to assist potential candidates for the 2025 Election in October 2025. It has no legislative sanction and is not inclusive of all the information related to the office of Mayor and Councillor, election procedures and election legislation. It is not a substitute for legal advice. It is recommended that you obtain a copy of the Local Authorities Election Act and other relevant legislation.
It is the candidate’s responsibility to read and understand all legislation concerning elections and to seek legal and accounting advice from professionals or to contact Municipal Affairs regarding requirements under provincial legislation.