Are you or someone you know interested in running for City Council in London in 2026?
Running an effective election campaign requires careful planning, team building and mobilization. If you are considering putting your name on a ballot or otherwise supporting a campaign, these non-partisan information and workshop sessions are designed to help you get started.
Join London United for Change and Pillar Nonprofit Network for the third Candidate School session focusing on what you need to know after an election campaign. Learn from local experts, individuals with lived experience, and community leaders about topics such as developing a campaign strategy, fundraising, branding, communicating with voters, and transitioning to the role of city councillor.
These free sessions are being offered to support Londoners who care about city governance. By sharing knowledge with newcomers to politics, we aim to remove barriers to participation and bolster strong and effective representation on London’s City Council this election year.
The sessions will be recorded and shared online afterwards.
In this specific session, you will learn more about:
- What to expect in the first year
- Training provided to councillors
- Key documents to know
- Standing committees and ABCs
- Expectations of constituents
- What you'll need to keep up
- Social media
- Key decisions for 2026-2030
- Setting goals for the term
- Working with Council colleagues
- "Strong Mayor" powers
Panel (with guest speakers): Burnout and staying the course
Workshop: Interpreting Council agendas
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Candidates for the 2026 municipal election. Campaign supporters such as volunteers, managers, and organizers
We are looking to reach prospective candidates for the upcoming municipal election as well as campaign supporters (e.g., volunteers, managers). These individuals will ideally be ideologically aligned with the goals of Pillar Nonprofit Network and London United for Change (i.e., motivated by progressive policy ideas). Individuals and/or groups need to be located within London.
LEVEL: Beginner-Intermediate
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr. Brendon Samuels is a local resident who has been involved with municipal politics in London since 2018. He is a sessional instructor at Western University and Toronto Metropolitan University, teaching about topics relating to civic engagement, urban planning and sustainability.
Brendon will be presenting these three sessions, alongside invited guest speakers, on behalf of London United for Change, a non-partisan, grassroots group of Londoners who want to see our next City Council enact progressive policies that are rooted in supporting people and a healthy planet over profit. This group aims to support progressive councillors and their supporters with training, resources and collaboration to help them develop robust campaigns, communicate with each other, and turn out the vote.
Join us to learn more about who is running and how you can help elect strong representation to effect change.
https://londonunitedforchange.ca/
>>> This session is part of a 3-part series called Candidate School: Training for London's Municipal Election. For more information and to register for the series please visit this event page. <<<