Important Dates
October 17, 2026 - Advanced Polling Day October 26 , 2026 - Voting Day
Register to Vote!
Beginning September 1, 2026 Individuals may apply to the Clerk’s Office until the close of voting on October 26, 2026, to have their name added to or removed from the voters’ list, or to update their information; amendments can also be made at polling locations. Requests may also be made to remove the name of a deceased person.
Municipal Elections in Ontario are held every four years and are governed by the Municipal Elections Act. The next municipal election will be held on Monday October 26, 2026. The new term of Council begins November 17, 2026.
Norwich’s 2026 municipal election will be in-person voting. This page provides all the information you need to participate as a voter, candidate or a person interested in running.
Questions regarding the election should be directed to the Clerk’s Office at (519) 667-2000 ext. 7614
Information related to the Municipal Election will be made available in alternatives formats upon request. Please contact the Clerk’s Department at 519-667-2000 to discuss your specific accessibility needs.
General Election Information
The Township of Norwich elects candidates to the positions of:
-
Mayor – to be elected at large
- Councillor (4) – one to be elected per ward
-
School Board Trustee
Note: the certified list of candidates under section 35(1)(2) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 will be posted following certification by the Municipal Clerk (before 2:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026).
Declaration of Acclamation - Ward 3
List of Certified Candidates 2026
| Office | Candidate's Name | Qualifying Adress | Contact Information |
| Mayor | Jim Palmer | 793466 Slant Rd., Norwich |
Home: 519-468-6215 Cell: 519-550-1771 |
| Adrian Couwenberg | 713967 Middletown Line, Burgessville |
Cell: 519-643-8988 email: acouwenberg@execulink.com |
|
| Councillor - Ward 1 | Marius Kerkhoff | 165421 New Road, Otterville |
Cell: 519-532-3995 email: Marius.Kerkhoff@outlook.com |
| Roy King | 146 Albert Street, Otterville |
Home: 519-879-6953 email: 1queenmyly@gmail.com |
|
| Councillor - Ward 2 | Lynne DePlancke | 82 Stover Street North, Norwich |
Home: 519-468-6728 Cell: 519-535-1995 email: lynnedeplancke@gmail.com |
| Tim Thompson | 22A Centre Street, Norwich |
Cell: 519-983-4526 email: timt@tga.cpa |
|
| Councillor - Ward 3 | Shawn Gear | 675 Main St., Burgessville |
Cell: 519-983-9854 email: Sgear1@live.ca |
| Councillor - Ward 4 | Karl Toews | 534100 Cedar Line, Norwich Township |
Cell: 226-883-0575 email: KarlToewsWard4@gmail.com |
| Lacey Hird | 525363 Oxford Centre Road, Norwich Township |
Phone: 519-536-1135 Email: lhird211@gmail.com |
School Board Candidate Information
The following school board trustee positions are available for the upcoming election. Please note that nomination filing locations vary by school board.
English Language School Boards
Nominations for these positions must be filed with the City of Woodstock.
- Thames Valley District School Board Trustee (2 positions)
- London District Catholic School Board Trustee (1 position)
French Language School Boards
- Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence (1 position)
- Filing Location: Nominations must be filed with the City of Woodstock.
- Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (1 position)
- Filing Location: Candidates residing in the Township of Norwich may file their nomination papers directly with the Norwich Clerk's Department (via legislative delegation under the *Municipal Elections Act*).
Track Nominees
To view the current list of certified candidates for all Oxford County school board trustee positions, please visit the City of Woodstock's List of Candidates website.
For candidates running for Conseil Scolaire Viamonde, the official list is maintained by the City of Sarnia's Election website.
Oxford County Clerk - Certificate of Acclamation for the Municipal School Board Election (Thames Valley District School Board / London District Catholic School Board)
List of Certified Candidates - French Language Public School Board
Revision Period for the Voters List begins on September 1, 2026 and closes with the close of voting on October 26, 2026
• A person may submit an application to have their name added to or removed from the Voters List or have their information on the Voters List amended. s.24(1)
• A person may submit an application requesting that a deceased person’s name be removed from the Voters List. s.25(3)
The Township of Norwich is now recruiting dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to work as election officials in the up-coming 2026 Municipal Election for the Advance Poll to be held on Saturday October 17, 2026 and Voting Day to be held on Monday October 26, 2026.
To be eligible to work, you must:
· Be a minimum of 18 years of age on or before October 26, 2026;
· Not be a candidate, or the spouse of a candidate, running for office in the Township of Norwich;
· Attend a mandatory training session (date/time to be determined)
· Be prepared to arrive at your designated voting place at a specified time and remain there until after voting closes and all duties have been completed; and
· Complete and submit an application for employment
If you are interested in working in the 2026 Municipal Election, you must complete an Election Official Application form and submit it by 4:00 p.m. on Friday September 25, 2026 to:
Mail: The Township of Norwich
Attn. Kimberley Armstrong, Director of Corporate Services/Clerk
285767 Airport Road
Norwich, ON, NOJ 1P0
Email: karmstrong@norwich.ca
Township Staff will review your completed application for employment upon receipt. Notifications will be sent to successful applicants the week of September 28th appointing all available positions. If you require further information, please contact Kimberley Armstrong, at 519-667-2000 ext. 7614.