Thursday
September 24, 2026
Meet-and-Greet:
5:00–9:00 PM
Royal Stouffville Golf Club
14248 ON-48, Stouffville, ON L4A 3B4
Free admission
Open to all
About the Event
Meet the candidates running for Ward Councillor in the 2026 Whitchurch-Stouffville Municipal Election. Attendees will have an opportunity to speak with candidates during the meet-and-greet and hear directly from them during six scheduled ward forums.
The meet-and-greet will continue throughout the evening while the ward forums are underway. Candidates who are not participating in their scheduled forum may continue meeting with attendees. Candidates have been asked to remain available throughout the evening.
6 wards • 23 candidates • One community forum
Ward Forum Schedule
Meet-and-Greet: 5:00–9:00 PM
Ward 1 Forum: 5:30–5:49 PM (2 candidates)
Ward 2 Forum: 5:55–6:33 PM (5 candidates)
Ward 3 Forum: 6:40–7:05 PM (3 candidates)
Intermission: 7:05–7:20 PM
Ward 4 Forum: 7:20–8:11 PM (7 candidates)
Ward 5 Forum: 8:20–8:45 PM (3 candidates)
Ward 6 Forum: 8:50–9:15 PM (3 candidates)
Final Closing Remarks: 9:16–9:20 PM
Final closing remarks will follow the Ward 6 forum. The formal program is expected to conclude at approximately 9:20 PM.
If a ward forum finishes early, the next forum will not begin before its published start time. The time between forums will be used for candidate transitions, audience movement and continued meet-and-greet activity.
How Each Ward Forum Works
Introduction and Rules:
The ward candidates will be introduced, and the forum format, speaking limits and audience expectations will be reviewed.
Candidate Campaign Pitches:
Each candidate will have up to two minutes to introduce themselves and deliver their campaign pitch.
Candidates may use this time to discuss:
• Who they are
• Why they are running
• Their priorities
• Why voters should consider supporting them
Moderated Questions:
Each ward forum will include three questions:
Business Question
Provided to candidates in advance.
Residential Question
Not provided to candidates in advance.
Random Question
Selected randomly at the event in front of the audience.
Questions will be asked one at a time. Each candidate will have up to 90 seconds to respond to each question.
Closing Remarks:
Following the questions, the candidates, attendees, moderators, volunteers and event partners will be thanked before the transition to the next ward forum.
Candidate Speaking Times
Each candidate will receive:
• Up to two minutes for their campaign pitch
• Up to 90 seconds to answer each of three questions
• Up to 6.5 minutes of total speaking time
Speaking limits will be applied equally to every candidate. Unused speaking time cannot be transferred to another answer.
Question Moderation
The same questions will be posed to every candidate within a ward.
Questions will be delivered neutrally and without commentary, debate or spontaneous follow-up questions. A question may be repeated when clarification is necessary.
Candidate response order may rotate between questions so that the same candidate does not always answer first or last.
Submit a Question
Community members may submit questions in advance for consideration.
Similar questions may be combined, and not all submitted questions can be included in the forum.
For questions from residents:
For questions from the business community:
Plan Your Visit
Parking
Parking may be congested as ward forums begin and end. Please allow additional time when arriving and departing.
Photography and Video Notice
Photography and video recording will take place during this event.
Accessibility and Event Questions
For accessibility needs or general questions about the event, please contact the Stouffville Library at info@wsplibrary.ca.
Event Timing
The meet-and-greet is scheduled from 5:00–9:00 PM. The formal ward forum program may continue beyond 9:00 PM and is expected to conclude at approximately 9:20 PM.
Frequently asked Questions
What is the difference between the meet-and-greet and the ward forums?
The meet-and-greet provides an informal opportunity to speak directly with candidates throughout the evening. The scheduled ward forums allow attendees to hear each candidate deliver a campaign pitch and respond to three moderated questions.
How many questions will candidates answer?
Each ward forum will include three questions: one business question, one residential question and one question selected randomly at the event.
How much time will each candidate have to speak?
Each candidate will have up to two minutes for their campaign pitch and up to 90 seconds to respond to each of the three questions.
Will every submitted question be asked?
No. Submitted questions will be reviewed for consideration. Similar questions may be combined, and not all submissions can be included.
What happens if a ward forum finishes early?
The next ward forum will not begin before its published start time. Any additional time will be used for candidate transitions, audience movement and continued meet-and-greet activity.
Will candidates remain available after their scheduled forum?
Candidates have been asked to remain available throughout the evening. Candidates who are not participating in their scheduled ward forum may continue meeting with attendees during the meet-and-greet.
What time does the event end?
The meet-and-greet is scheduled to end at 9:00 PM. The formal ward forum program is expected to conclude at approximately 9:20 PM.
Will photography take place?
Yes. Photography and video recording will take place during the event.