Thursday, September 24, 2026

An election by voting is to be held to elect one (1) Mayor and the following persons are candidates for that office:

• Eric Galarneau  |  Tofino, BC
• Tom Stere  |  Tofino, BC

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Voting Dates & Locations

• Advance Voting: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 8:00AM to 8:00PM
• General Voting Day: Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 8:00AM to 8:00PM
• Mail Ballot: Any eligible elector can choose to vote by mail in ballot. Mail ballots must be received by the District of Tofino before 8:00 PM (PCT) on Saturday, October 17, 2026, to be counted. Visit www.tofino.ca/election or contact us for information about requesting a mail ballot package.

Eligible Tofino voters will cast their ballot either in advance or on general voting day in the Tofino Community Hall at 351 Arnet Road, Tofino, B.C.

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Elector Registration

If you are not on the list of electors, you may register at the time of voting by completing the application form available at the voting place and making a declaration that you meet the requirements to be registered as set out below:

Resident Electors

To register as a resident elector, you must:

• be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026);
• be a Canadian citizen;
• be a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting);
• be a resident of the District of Tofino on the day of registration (at time of voting); and
• not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent voting and not otherwise disqualified by law.

Non-Resident Property Electors

To register as a non-resident property elector you must:

• be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026);
• be a Canadian citizen;
• be a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting);
• be a registered owner of real property in the District of Tofino for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting);
• not be entitled to register as a resident elector; and
• not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent voting and not otherwise disqualified by law.

In addition, for non-resident property electors:

• The only persons who are registered owners of the property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust.
• If more than one person is registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the owners, register as a non-resident property elector.

To register, resident electors must produce 2 pieces of identification (at least one with a signature). Picture identification is not necessary. The identification must prove both residency and identity.

To register, non-resident property electors must produce 2 pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity, proof that they are entitled to register in relation to the property, and, if there is more than one owner of the property, written consent from the other property owners.

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Mail Ballot Voting

Requesting a Mail Ballot Package

Eligible electors can request a Mail Ballot between September 29, 2026, until 4:00PM on Thursday, October 15, 2026. You must complete and submit an “Application to Vote by Mail” to receive a Mail Ballot. Application forms are available online at www.tofino.ca/election or at the Tofino Municipal Office. Applications can be submitted by email to election@tofino.ca or in person at the Tofino Municipal Office at 121 Third Street, Tofino, BC during regular business hours, or by mail to:

Attention: Chief Election Officer

Corporate Services Division

District of Tofino

121 Third Street

PO Box 9

Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0

Your application must be approved by the Chief Election Officer before you receive a Mail Ballot. If there are any issues with your application, a member of the elections team will contact you. Please note that the eligibility of an elector that received a Mail Ballot can be challenged until 4:00PM on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

On the application form, you can select the method of delivery for your Mail Ballot package. There are three options:

1. You can pick up your Mail Ballot package from the election staff at the Tofino Municipal Office during regular business hours.
2. You can designate a third-party to pick up a Mail Ballot package for you from the election staff at the Tofino Municipal Office during regular business hours.
3. You can have the Mail Ballot package mailed to you. Mail Ballots will be sent via Canada Post regular mail.

The last day to submit an “Application to Vote by Mail” and receive a Mail Ballot is October 15, 2026, at 4:00PM.

The District of Tofino will begin mailing the Mail Ballot Voting packages once the ballots have been printed and received.

Returning Your Mail Ballot

Voters are responsible for ensuring that completed Mail Ballots are received by the Chief Election Officer before the close of General Voting Day as of 8:00PM on October 17, 2026. A mail ballot may be returned by one of the following methods:

 

By mail to:

Attention: Chief Election Officer

Corporate Services Division

District of Tofino

121 Third Street

PO Box 9

Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0

 

In person by 4:00PM on October 16, 2026, to:

Tofino Municipal Office

121 Third Street

Tofino, BC

 

In person at the voting place (Tofino Community Hall, at 391 Arnet Road) on Advance Voting Day, October 7, 2026, or General Voting Day, October 17, 2026, between the hours of 8:00AM and 8:00PM.

If you are unable to enter the voting place, please call (250) 266-0375 and election staff can meet you by your vehicle in front of the voting place.

 

To be counted, your mail ballot must be received by the Chief Election Officer no later than 8PM on Saturday, October 17, 2026 of General Voting Day.

Those electors who may require some assistance because of accessibility challenges are invited to contact the Chief Election Officer as soon as possible to facilitate their voting experiences.

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Questions?

Jaime Larsen | Chief Election Officer

250-725-3229 ext. 610 | elections@tofino.ca