With the 2026 Municipal Election approaching, the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce will host an All-Candidates Night on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at St. Paul Catholic Secondary School. This event provides residents and members of the local business community an opportunity to hear directly from those seeking to represent them in municipal government.
All individuals seeking election as Mayor, Councillor or School Board Trustee have been invited to participate in the event. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m., with official presentations beginning at 6:45 p.m. The evening will be moderated by Jeff McKerracher, President of the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce.
Candidates will have an opportunity to meet and speak directly with residents at designated tables before the formal presentations begin. Council candidates from Wards 1, 2, 3 and 4 will each be given 90 seconds on stage to introduce themselves to attendees. The mayoral portion of the evening will include opening remarks and a moderated question period. Questions have been submitted in advance through an online portal and will also be accepted from attendees at the door until 6:30 p.m. Questions will be reviewed for relevance to the municipal election and may be edited for clarity, length or relevance.
“The All-Candidates Night is an important opportunity for residents to hear directly from the people seeking to represent our community,” says Joe Southwell, CEO of the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce. “Our goal is to provide a fair and respectful forum where candidates can share their perspectives and residents can become better informed ahead of the municipal election.”
The Chamber gratefully acknowledges the support of the Central Lakes Association of REALTORS®, whose support has helped bring this forum to the community, as well as St. Paul Catholic Secondary School for providing the venue.
St. Paul students and staff are also holding a food drive in support of the Trenton Food Bank. Those attending event are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to contribute to the collection.
The 2026 Quinte West Municipal Election will take place on Monday, October 26, with advance voting opportunities scheduled for October 14, 17 and 20. Residents can find information about voter eligibility, registration, voting options and the full list of certified candidates through Quinte West Votes at www.quintewestvotes.ca
EVENT DETAILS
Quinte West All Candidates Night
Thursday, October 1, 2026
6:00-9:00pm
St. Paul Catholic Secondary School
15 Tripp Blvd., Trenton
For more information about All-Candidates Night, visit the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce events calendar online here.
