Wawa Election 2026: Candidates, Dates and How Phone and Online Voting Works
The 2026 Wawa election runs October 16–26 by internet and phone only. Here are the mayor and council candidates, help-desk times and how to vote.
The Wawa election runs from Friday, October 16 to Monday, October 26, 2026. Residents will choose a mayor and four councillors. For the first time there are no paper ballots: every vote is cast online or by telephone.
Who is running
The Municipality of Wawa has certified the following candidates. Names are listed alphabetically by surname, as they appear on the municipality’s official list.
Mayor (choose one)
- Melanie Pilon (incumbent)
- Ray Vaillant
Council (choose up to four)
- Cathy Cannon
- Mitch Hatfield
- Colton Liddle
- Shah Mohamed
- Jason North
- Ron Ouellette
- Eric Paquette
- Brandon Smit
- James Stewart
School board trustees were acclaimed, so there is no trustee vote this year. The trustees are Susan Johnson (English Public), Carol MacEachern (English Separate), Leo Raymond (French Public) and Luc Tessier (French Separate).
How to vote
- Find your Voter Information Letter. The municipality has mailed every eligible voter a letter with a unique PIN and instructions. If you hadn’t received yours by October 13, go to the Municipal Office at 40 Broadway Avenue with one piece of ID showing your name and qualifying address.
- Choose online or phone. Vote online with a computer, tablet or smartphone, or call the toll-free number in your letter from a touch-tone phone.
- Vote any time in the window. Voting is open from October 16 until Election Day, October 26. You don’t have to wait for the last day.
- Check before you confirm. Once you submit, your ballot can’t be changed.
Keep your PIN private. If you lose it, the municipality can issue a replacement once it has verified your identity, as long as the original PIN hasn’t already been used.
Help desks for in-person help
If you need help or don’t have a phone or internet access, staff will be available at:
| Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal Office front desk, 40 Broadway Ave. | Weekdays, Oct. 16–23 | 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Municipal Office council chambers | Oct. 19 and 20 | 10 a.m.–noon and 2–4 p.m. |
| Iris Place / Food Bank lobby, 96 Broadway Ave. | Wed., Oct. 21 | 2–4 p.m. |
| Mountain View Apartments, 35 Algoma St. | Thu., Oct. 22 | 10 a.m.–noon |
| Wawa Goose Seniors Centre, 179 B Mission Rd. | Thu., Oct. 22 | 1–3 p.m. |
| Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre banquet room | Mon., Oct. 26 (Election Day) | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. |
Being registered for a provincial or federal election doesn’t necessarily mean you’re on the municipal voters’ list. If you’re not sure, check with the Municipal Office before October 26.
Issues to ask about
Whoever wins will take office as the region works through some big questions. A $1 million provincial grant is helping reopen Michipicoten Harbour to shipping. Local mining is facing pressure, and Wawa is also trying to grow its population. The Northern Policy Institute will hold a population and immigration session in Wawa on November 4–5. Health care staffing at the Lady Dunn Health Centre and the reliability of Highway 17 are other questions to put to candidates.