Citizens’ council announces Township of Hamilton candidates forum ahead of election

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By editor/reporter Sarah Hyatt

Priorities for Township of Hamilton residents will take centre stage at a candidates forum coming up next Thursday at Cold Springs Memorial Hall.

“We’re looking to have a lively questions-and-answers opportunity between candidates and our audience about issues of concern for Hamilton township both now and in the future,” noted Faye McFarlane, chair of the “Citizens’ Council of Hamilton Township.”

The citizens’ council and CFUW-Northumberland are sponsoring the forum for councillor candidates next Thursday, Sept. 10, the citizens’ council announced in a recent release.

“Agricultural lands, tourism, population growth, the planned Wesleyville nuclear plant and housing are just some of the issues we’ll be looking at with the candidates,” explained McFarlane.

Over the course of the last several years, the township with eight hamlets has already seen immense interest and growth and is now home to about 11,000 residents.

The municipal and school board elections are coming up fast – set for Oct. 26, 2026 – but for Township of Hamilton residents, voting will start Oct. 16 and then close at 8 p.m. on Oct. 26, township staff have reported. (The advanced voting period opens Oct. 16 at 9 a.m.)

Residents will have internet and telephone voting options this year – and the township has confirmed voter assistance centres will also be established during the voting period where people can bring their voter instruction letters and cast ballots with staff support if needed.

As previously reported, the top two positions of council are already filled.

Both Mayor Scott Jibb and Deputy Mayor Larry Williamson are staying at the helm after being acclaimed following the close of the nomination period Aug. 21 and no other candidates filed to run against them.

This means three councillor positions are up for grabs and there are five candidates vying for residents’ votes.

The township previously released its certified candidates list identifying incumbents Bruce Buttar and John Davison as seeking re-election, while Jay Chatten, Rob MacArthur and Patricia “Pat” McCourt have also put their names forward.

Long-time politician and current Coun. Mark Lovshin is not seeking re-election. Lovshin previously also served as mayor and deputy mayor for a total of about 26 years on council.

The citizens’ council said all residents are welcome at the upcoming forum and “audience questions will be encouraged to spark discussions on a range of issues.”

The forum gets underway on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Cold Springs Memorial Hall, which is located at 3844 Burnham St. N., Cold Springs.

There will be light refreshments courtesy of CFUW-Northumberland, noted organizers.

According to township staff, voter instruction letters are supposed to arrive in mailboxes several weeks prior to the start of the voting period. These letters contain critical information relating to the election process and voting details, noted staff, in an earlier release.

Residents can also contact the clerk’s office at 905-342-2810 to ensure their voter information is up-to-date and/or visit hamiltontownship.ca/vote.