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 three sessions of Candidate School focusing on what you need to know before, during and 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.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Learn how to prepare for and run an effective campaign for London’s municipal election
• Be familiar with the entire municipal election process: before, during and after the campaign
• Understand the basics of campaign strategy, branding and communication with constituents
• Review resources and tools that are available to support you as a candidate or campaign worker
----2026 PROGRAM SCHEDULE---
Before the Campaign, Monday January 26, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
During the Campaign, Tuesday February 17, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Starting as a Councillor, Tuesday March 17,6:00 - 8:00 PM
Please note that you can register for the entire series using the registration buttons on this page. To register for just one or two of the sessions, click on the link above and register on the individual event pages.
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.
