Today, August 21, is officially “Nomination Day” for the 2026 Municipal Election. In our last post, we ran down the candidate roster that was still taking shape. But with two days remaining before the nomination deadline at the time of that post, there was still plenty of opportunity for some last-minute movement.
And movement there was.
Nominations officially closed at 2PM and the Town has now released its “EL07 List of Certified Candidates.” The Municipal Clerk has certified that the candidates on the list filed the necessary paperwork, declarations and fees, are qualified, and that their nominations satisfy the requirements of the Municipal Elections Act.
Here is the field Grimsby voters will have to choose from in October:
View or download the List of Certified Candidates by clicking this link here.
Observations
Compared with the candidate list published a few days ago, there were several notable changes before nominations closed. David Scott joined the Ward 2 race, while former Councillor Dave Sharpe withdrew his nomination. That leaves Kevin Ritchie in Ward 1 and John Dunstall in Ward 3 as the two former members of the 2018-2022 Council’s so-called “G5” attempting comebacks.
The school board races also changed quickly. Nick Goater, Deb Pearce and Luca Vitali joined Duncan Storey in the District School Board of Niagara race, eliminating the possibility of an acclamation. Alex Joyner joined Lynn Dudok and Leanne Prince in the Niagara Catholic District School Board race, while Matthew Simatovic is no longer on the list.
The race for the Mayor’s chair remains a four-way contest with incumbent Jeff Jordan looking for a three-peat over Veronica Charrois, Simon Duong and Michelle Seaborn.
Of the current sitting Members of Council, only Ward 1 Councillor Delight Davoli did not file for re-election. We thank Councillor Davoli for her service to the community and wish her all the best in whatever comes next.
The One To Watch – Ward 3
Ward 3 is shaping up to be the race to watch, with eight candidates competing for just two Council seats, by far the largest field in Grimsby this election. Incumbent Jennifer Korstanje is seeking re-election, while current Ward 4 Councillor Jacob Baradziej has moved into Ward 3 for this election.
Former Councillors Joanne Johnston and John Dunstall are also in the race, with Dunstall having initially registered in Ward 2 before switching wards. They join Ryan Day, Amy Lupton, Jonathan Polowick and Shane Weaver.
With an incumbent, a sitting Councillor changing wards, two former Councillors attempting comebacks and several new faces, Ward 3 could prove to be one of the most interesting contests on the ballot.
Let The Campaigns Begin
Campaigning is, of course, already underway, but things will now shift into high gear with the candidate list finalized.
Between now and October, voters will have the opportunity to compare the candidates, their records and their priorities for the next four years.
The election takes place on Monday, October 26.
For full election information, including how to get on the Voters’ List, find your ward and cast your ballot, visit the Town’s official 2026 Election website at the following link: https://www.grimsby.ca/town-hall/elections/