Sylvan Lake residents will head to the polls on November 2, 2026, to fill a vacant town council seat left by the resignation of long-time councillor Jas Payne. The by-election will restore council to its full seven-seat complement, with the winner serving until the 2029 general municipal election.
Payne resigned on September 3 after 13 years on council, leaving Mayor Megan Hanson and five remaining councillors to manage town business. Under Alberta legislation, a municipal by-election must be held within 120 days of a vacancy, and the Town of Sylvan Lake has confirmed all key dates.
Residents can meet potential candidates at a Candidate Information Night on October 1 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Municipal Government Building (5012 48 Avenue). The deadline to file nomination papers is October 5 at 12:00 PM.
A Candidate Forum is set for October 28 at the NexSource Centre, giving voters a chance to hear directly from those running. Advance polls will be held October 30 and 31 from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the Municipal Government Building. Election day voting will take place November 2 from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the Wellness and Community Connections Centre (4725 – 43 Street).
As of September 16, three candidates had submitted nominations: Ruby Cole-Ellis, Sean McWade, and Tim Nelson. The full list of candidates will be confirmed after the nomination deadline.
Council appointed Mandi Wisheu as Returning Officer and Jolene Reynolds as Substitute Returning Officer for the by-election. Detailed information about voting eligibility and candidate requirements is available on the Town of Sylvan Lake website.
