2025 Municipal Election Info.

2025 ELECTIONS!!!!

 Section 12 of the Local Authorities Election Act requires Summer Villages to determine a Nomination Day, to occur in June or July of 2025. If the number of candidates nominated exceeds the number of candidates required, then there is an election 4 weeks after nomination day. The following dates have been set for the Summer Village of Birch Cove Municipal Election:

Nomination Day:  Saturday, June 21st, 2025 from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at the Birch Cove Community Shelter – located at Municipal Reserve Lot R2, Plan 2684MC

Advance Vote: Monday, July 14th, 2025 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Birch Cove Community Shelter

Election Day: Saturday, July 19th, 2025 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. at  the Birch Cove Community Shelter

Please note that, due to changes in the Local Authorities Election Act, Vouching will NOT be allowed during the 2025 Summer Village of Birch Cove Municipal Election.

CANDIDATE AND COUNCILLOR ORIENTATION:

Municipalities are now REQUIRED TO OFFER Candidate Orientation opportunities to the electorate during general election cycles for local authorities. Elected Officials are now also REQUIRED TO COMPLETE Councillor Orientation in order to hold office within a local authority (municipality).

If you are interested in running for office in the 2025 municipal election for the Summer Village of West Cove, please note the Candidate and Councillor Orientation dates and times listed on the website and keep these dates open in your calendars. You may attend either of the available candidate orientation training sessions, and you must be prepared to attend both the Part 1 and Part 2 Councillor Orientation training sessions. Noting the Part 1 Councillor training options – please note that you should keep both dates open in your calendar; if the election is concluded by acclamation the earlier date (July 23) will be used for orientation, if the election is contested we will use the later date (August 27) for the Part 1 training.

While your attendance at the Candidate Orientation is voluntary, Councillor Training (both Part 1 and 2) are required if you are elected to council. If you are interested in running for office, please reach out to Administration to ensure you are pre-registered for the training opportunities provided.

Candidate Orientation Options:

  • Candidate Orientation (Option 1) May 3, 2025
    10 a.m. to 12 noon
    Stettin-Nakamun Hall 5404 Township Road 571, Lac Ste Anne County
  • Candidate Orientation (Option 2) May 24, 2025
    10 a.m. to 12 noon
    Darwell Seniors Center (Interlake Golden Age Club)Hwy AB-765, Darwell Alberta

Councillor Orientation Options:

  • Councillor Orientation (Part 1) July 23, 2025 (if Elected by Acclamation) 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
    Alberta Beach Seniors Centre (5012 49th Ave, Alberta Beach)
  • Councillor Orientation (Part 1) August 27, 2025 (if Contested Election) 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
    Alberta Beach Seniors Centre (5012 49th Ave, Alberta Beach)
  • Councillor Orientation (Part 2) September 15, 2025
    9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    Alberta Beach Seniors Centre (5012 49th Ave, Alberta Beach)

 

Who can vote in the Summer Village Election?

 To vote in the election you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old; and
  • Be a Canadian citizen; and
  • Reside in Alberta; and
  • Your place of residence is in the Summer Village on election day; or
  • You must be on the certificate of title as the person who owns property within the Summer Village; or
  • You must be the spouse or adult interdependent partner of a person who is on the certificate of title.

Election Register and Elector Identification:
Recent changes to the Local Authorities Election Act require many municipalities to use Election Registers, or voter lists. Summer Villages have an exemption to this requirement, and therefore we may use an Elector Register or opt to use traditional methods of Elector Identification at the poll stations.

Council has declined to use an Elector Register. This means that anyone wishing to vote in the 2025 Municipal Election for the Summer Village of Birch Cove will be required to provide appropriate identification. Furthermore, vouching as a means of confirming elector eligibility will no longer be an option. In the past, this would have been an option but current legislation affords this option only to municipalities that use an Elector Register.

VOUCHING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED DURING THE 2025 SUMMER VILLAGE OF BIRCH COVE ELECTION. PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE REQUIRED IDENTIFICATION IN ORDER TO VOTE AT THE POLLS.

Who can run in the Summer Village Election?

To be a candidate in the election you must:

  • Be entitled to vote in the election; and
  • Have been a resident in Alberta for the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding election day; and
  • Not otherwise be disqualified.

Nomination Information:

Nomination packages can be downloaded from our website, HERE, or can be picked up at the Municipal Office (2317 Twp 545, Lac Ste Anne County). Or you can download the required forms directly from the Municipal Affairs election forms website.

There are a number of forms included in the nomination Package, please note that these cannot be submitted electronically:

Form 29 Notice of Intent – this is notice that you intend to run in the municipal election and can be handed in to the Returning Officer at any time.

The latest it can be handed in is when your nomination papers are filed.

Form 4 Nomination Paper & Candidates Acceptance – this form must include the signatures of at least 5 eligible electors.

Form 5 Candidate Financial Information – This must be handed in with your nomination papers.

Form 26 Campaign Disclosure Statement & Financial Statement – this form must be handed in, by all candidates, no later than March 1, 2026.

Nomination papers and associated forms will be accepted on Nomination Day from 10 a.m. until 12 noon,  2025. If someone other than you is dropping off your paperwork, it must be signed by a Commissioner of Oaths.

Information & Resources:

Running for office and serving your community as an elected official can be a rewarding and worthwhile endeavour for you and your community. However, it can feel overwhelming at times, and it’s important to understand what the election process and serving as a Councillor entails. Below are links to resources that can help. 

abmunis.ca/advocacy-resources/running-municipal-office

alberta.ca/municipal-elections-overview

Local Authorities Election Act

Municipal Affairs – A Candidates Guide: Running for Municipal Office in Alberta

New Requirements for Candidate Financial Reporting:
Requirements now exist in the Local Authority Elections for Candidates to open and maintain an independent Campaign Account at a recognized financial institution.

Campaign accounts are governed by section 147 .3(1 )(a) of the LAEA, which reads that a Candidate must ensure they open a campaign account in the name of the candidate or their election campaign at a financial institution for the purpose of the election campaign. This should occur at the time the candidate submits a written notice under section 147.22 or as soon as contributions to the campaign are $1000, in aggregate. Any funds contributed by a candidate are considered contributions and must be deposited into the campaign account. These contributions must also be disclosed in accordance with section 147.4, using Form 26.

Candidates should be aware that even minor expenses, such as gas mileage, qualify as campaign expenditures and must be paid from the campaign account, even if the funds used are the candidate’s personal funds. To ensure compliance with the regulations regarding campaign finance and candidate duties, we are also reminding all candidates to be prepared to provide the details of their intended financial institution of their campaign when submitting their prescribed forms, but also strongly recommending that they have a campaign account opened and operating, regardless of if they intend to receive contributions for their campaign.

ABMUNIS CANDIDATE WEBINAR SESSIONS
Are you ready to make a difference in your community? If you’re considering running for local council in a small Alberta municipality, this is the perfect opportunity for you! Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) and Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) are hosting a webinar to help you prepare for this year’s election.

In this engaging session, you’ll learn about the roles and responsibilities of local office, how it compares to federal and provincial governments, and the incredible rewards that come with serving your community. You’ll also get an inside look at how councils are structured, what’s expected of council members, and the unique impact you can have in a village and summer village. The content of this webinar is catered to persons who live in a village and summer village; however, any Albertan is welcome to attend this webinar to learn about the experience of serving on council. If the timing of this webinar does not work with your schedule, please feel free to register for any of our upcoming municipal election webinars no matter the type of your municipality. Visit ABmunis events page for a full listing of the webinars.

But that’s not all! The presentation will feature guest speakers from local councils who will share their personal experiences leading small Alberta municipalities. Plus, there will be a Q&A session where you can ask questions and gain valuable insights on what it’s like to be a local elected official.

To attend a webinar simply register here. We hope to see you there!
The Villages and Summer Villages webinar will run on the following dates: 

  • •April 23, 2025 from 7:30pm to 8:30pm_(Featuring ASVA and ABmunis Board member Ren Giesbrecht, Mayor of the Summer Village of West Cove

    •May 6, 2025 from 12:00pm to 1 :00pm

REGISTER HERE!

Please contact the Returning Officer if you have any questions about the election or nominations.

 

Returning Officer

Angela Duncan

angela@wildwillowenterprises.com

780-967-0271