On this page
- Upcoming election events
- What are the responsibilities of the different levels of government?
- What is a member of council’s job?
- What is the mayor’s job?
- How can municipal governments build liveable communities?
- How can I help to get out the vote (GOTV)?
- More resources from Get Involved! Guelph
Upcoming election events
September 24
Event: Guelph Mayoral Candidate Townhall
Hosted by: Guelph Wellington Coalition for Social Justice
When: Thursday, September 24, doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Italian Canadian Club, 135 Ferguson Street
October 7
Event: Mayoral Candidates Debate
Hosted by: Guelph Chamber of Commerce
When: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: 340 Woodlawn Road West, Unit 26, Guelph
What are the responsibilities of the different levels of government?
Check out this guide from Open Council to find out which level of government (municipal, provincial or federal) has what responsibilities. Scroll down for a quick, whimsical educational rap video that explains it all with a beat and rhymes. Looking for more? This page goes into more detail on municipal government responsibilities.
What is a member of council’s job?
A member of council’s job is to balance the dual responsibility of representing the interests of their constituents with ensuring the long-term well-being of the municipality. They must play 3 main roles:
- Representative of residents’ views and concerns
- Policy-maker to establish the direction of the municipality and its future actions
- Steward of public finances
Learn more: Municipal councillor job description
What is the mayor’s job?
The mayor is the head of council.
According to Open Council, the role of head of council is to:
- Act as the municipality’s chief executive officer
- Preside over council meetings such that business is carried out both efficiently and effectively
- Provide leadership to the council
- Provide information and recommendations to council on policies, practices and procedures, to ensure transparency and accountability
- Represent the municipality at official functions
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) describes the mayor’s role this way:
The Head of Council acts as the leader of the municipality. Depending on the type of municipality they are called Mayor, Reeve, Warden, or Regional Chair. They preside over council meetings, represent the municipality at official events, and complete any other duties outlined in legislation.
How can municipal governments build liveable communities?
The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario lists 10 actions municipal governments can take to help build liveable communities. See Building a Liveable Ontario Roadmap for Municipalities for the details, or download the roadmap.
Check out their YouTube channel to see podcasts and videos about the Roadmap.
How can I help to get out the vote (GOTV)?
Guelph Healthy Democracy Toolkit
Whether you’re an individual or a community organization, the first thing you can do is help to get out the vote: engage members of the community in the election and improve voter turnout. The Guelph Healthy Democracy Toolkit makes that information more accessible and digestible. The toolkit “provides a step-by-step process to help you identify your audience, determine the most effective ways to engage them, and encourage greater participation in local elections.”
Here are the six steps.
| Step | What it means | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Know Your Audience | Think about who is in your network and how you can engage them. |
| 2 | Start the Conversation | Raise awareness and connect with your audience. |
| 3 | Get Informed | Share information about the issues, candidates, and the voting process. |
| 4 | Make a Plan | Help people decide when, where, and how to vote. |
| 5 | Get Out the Vote | Vote and encourage others and provide direct support to voters. |
| 6 | Keep the Momentum Going | Celebrate engagement and stay engaged in the community. |
Visit the complete Guelph Healthy Democracy Toolkit for helpful, detailed information to navigate each step, or check out the Quick Guide.
More resources from Get Involved! Guelph
- Council meeting minutes: Searchable Record Tool and summaries. Every motion put to City Council and Committee of the Whole between 2023 and 2026, and how each member voted
- Community Candidate Survey: 2026 Municipal Election. Questions for candidates, prepared by local organizations and individuals
- Guelph Council Watch report cards. Analysis of key council votes from the last four years
- What you need to know to vote. When, where and how to cast your ballot
- James Gordon’s municipal election voting checklist. Questions one former councillor asks himself at the polling station