Your City. Your Choice.

Why Owen Sound’s 2026 Election Matters

If we don’t speak up, others will decide our future

In just over a year, Owen Sound residents will pick a new mayor and council.

For some, municipal politics feels small. It doesn’t come with the drama of Ottawa or Queen’s Park. But here’s the truth: city hall decisions shape our daily lives more than any other level of government.

Who clears the snow on your street? Who decides if a new subdivision gets built on your block? Who sets tax rates, water bills, garbage fees? Not MPs. Not MPPs . . .

It's your City council!

Why it matters

Turnout in Owen Sound’s municipal elections is low. Too many of us shrug and stay home.

But when only a fraction of citizens vote, a fraction of voices decide the city’s future. And when council knows few people are watching, accountability slips.

Democracy works best when people engage. Councillors pay attention when residents speak up, ask tough questions, and show up on election day.

The stakes in 2026

Owen Sound is at a crossroads.

Housing is scarce and expensive. Seniors need more accessible services. Downtown is fighting vacancies. Jobs and young families are not arriving in the numbers we need.

Infrastructure is aging. Climate change is creating new pressures. Health care remains stretched.

These challenges won’t fix themselves. The next council will decide how tax dollars are spent, what projects move forward, and what kind of city we want to build. Do we grow and adapt—or drift and fall behind?

Your role

Getting involved isn’t just about marking a ballot every four years. It’s about shaping the debate before the vote.

Ask candidates where they stand on housing, jobs, and downtown renewal. Attend a council meeting. Speak at a public hearing. Write a letter. Share your vision with neighbours.

If you don’t, someone else will. And their vision may not reflect yours.

The bottom line

Municipal politics may not grab headlines, but it matters. Every tax bill, every pothole, every zoning decision flows from city hall.

In 2026, Owen Sound has a choice. We can sit back and let others decide—or we can step up and shape our own future.

Your city. Your voice. Your choice. Don’t sit this one out.

Review our ideas for changing this dynamic at: RemakeCouncil.COM