SHSD Admin/Election Office
Souris
67 Willow Avenue E
Or
Melita
165 North Street
Summer Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Access by Appointment Only
To ensure personnel are on-site to assist you with candidate nominations, Voters List corrections, or sealed envelope voting applications, please arrange an appointment time in advance by contacting seo@shmb.ca
The SEO supervises the election and is your primary contact for questions about voting locations, alternative voting, or candidate registration.
Kris Doull
Senior Election Official
Email: seo@shmb.ca
Mailing Address:
Southwest Horizon School Division
Attn: SEO/Elections
Box 820
Souris, MB R0K 2C0
The 2026 School Board Elections are scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026. This is a great opportunity for residents to take part in shaping local education in Southwest Horizon School Division.
Trustees are elected every four years during Manitoba’s municipal elections. They play an important role in representing the community, helping set priorities for local schools, and supporting decisions that impact students, staff, and families across the Division.
If you’re curious about what’s involved in becoming a trustee—there are some helpful resources available:
· Watch the candidate information session recording: Manitoba School Trustee Election Information Session 2026
· Review answers to frequently asked questions from the sessions: School Board Elections - Manitoba School Boards Association
· Learn more about the 2026 Manitoba School Trustee Elections and the role of a school trustee: https://www.elect2026.ca
School boards are elected bodies responsible for overseeing the planning and delivery of educational services within specific geographic regions. The structure, responsibilities, and obligations of school boards are defined by provincial legislation, primarily through The Public Schools Act and The Education Administration Act. Within the framework of these laws, school boards also function at the governing level, with the authority to establish local policies.
The Southwest Horizon School Division Board of Trustees is entrusted with several key functions, including policy determination, setting the organization’s strategic direction, and developing the annual budget to support educational goals. Their role is primarily focused on high-level governance, ensuring these policies and strategies are effectively implemented. Rather than engaging in the day-to-day operations, the Board emphasizes long-term decision-making that steers the division towards its broader goals and ensures continued educational excellence.
School trustees play an important role in shaping the future of public education in Manitoba. Election Day is October 28, 2026. Consider making a difference in your community by putting your name forward.
Information for Candidates
The campaign registration period for school division trustee candidates opens June 30, 2026.
Timeline for Candidates:
1. Registration of Prospective Candidate (open June 30 to September 22, 2026)
Anyone intending to run for election as a school board trustee must first register with the Senior Election Official (SEO) during the registration period and before commencing any campaign activities.
Prospective candidates must provide:
· Basic personal information;
· The office they intend to seek; and
· Campaign account information, if they will be accepting campaign contributions.
The Senior Election Official will assist prospective candidates with the registration process.
Upon registration, candidates will receive a Candidate Registration Package containing the information and forms required for nomination.
Once registered, a candidate officially enters the campaign period and may begin accepting monetary contributions and incurring campaign-related expenses.
2. Nomination Period (September 16 – 22, 2026)
Filing nomination papers is the formal step to get a candidate’s name on the ballot.
Disclosure of Offences: As part of the nomination, candidates must disclose any guilty pleas or convictions for specific offences under the Criminal Code, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, or Income Tax Act. These disclosures are on the nomination forms and will be published on the school division’s website along with the list of nominations.
Candidates will obtain nomination signatures from eligible votes within the ward in which they are running. At least 25 signatures or 1% of the eligible voters in the ward.
Nomination papers will be received Sept 16-22 at the SHSD Administrative Office (hours to be posted/provided in candidate registration packages).
3. Withdrawal (on/before September 23)
A candidate may withdraw their nomination in writing to the SEO until 24 hours after the nomination period ends, provided enough candidates remain to fill the vacancies.
4. Acclamation / Notice of Election (September 24)
Acclamation: If the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of vacancies, the SEO will declare the candidates elected by acclamation, and no election will be held for those seats.
Notice of Election: If an election is required, a notice will be posted as soon as possible, confirming candidate list and location(s) for voting.
New!
Campaigning and Finance Rules:
Contributions: Only residents of Manitoba may contribute to a campaign. Individual contributions are capped at $1,500.
Self-Funding: A candidate may contribute up to $7,500 to their own campaign.
Expenses: Candidates cannot incur a deficit; campaign expenses must not exceed the total contributions received.
Records: Detailed financial records must be kept, as all candidates (even those not elected) must file an Election Finance Statement.
Finance Statement Deadline: Registered candidates must file their Election Finance Statement with the secretary-treasurer within 30 days after the campaign period ends.
Surplus Funds: Any campaign surplus must be turned over to the school division to be held in trust for the candidate’s next election.
Qualifications
To qualify as a candidate for Board of Trustees, an individual must meet the following general criteria as of Election Day:
Canadian Citizenship: The individual must be a Canadian citizen.
Age: The individual must be at least 18 years of age.
Residency: The individual must be an actual resident of the school division or district and must have resided there for at least six months prior to Election Day.
Voter Status: The candidate must be a qualified voter of the school division.
not subject to disqualification under The Public Schools Act, The Municipal Councils, School Boards Elections Act, or any other applicable legislation
Residency and Ward Rules
A critical distinction for school board elections is that non-resident property owners are not eligible to run for office; a candidate must be an actual resident of the division. However, if a division is divided into wards, a candidate does not have to live in the specific ward they wish to represent, provided they reside somewhere within the division as a whole. Notably, the nomination papers for a ward election must still be signed by eligible voters who do reside in that specific ward.
Disqualifications
Under The Public Schools Act and The Municipal Councils and School Boards Elections Act, certain individuals are ineligible to be nominated or serve as trustees:
Other Elected Officials: Members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, the Senate, or the House of Commons of Canada are disqualified.
Multiple Nominations: A person cannot hold or be nominated for more than one local elected office at a time. For example, a person cannot run for both a municipal council and a school board simultaneously.
Students: Any pupil in regular attendance at a school within the same school division is ineligible.
Criminal Convictions: Individuals are disqualified if they have been convicted of an offense punishable by imprisonment for five years or more, or specific Criminal Code offenses such as breach of trust, selling or purchasing office, or influencing appointments.
Employment and Conflicts of Interest
School Division Employees: A teacher or other employee of a school division may run for trustee, but they must take a leave of absence from their job in order to serve if elected.
Spouses of Employees: An individual is not disqualified if their spouse works for the school division. However, that trustee may have a conflict of interest in specific matters, such as salary negotiations or leave provisions, and must recuse themselves from those debates and votes.
More information about candidate registration, nominations, voting locations, and key dates will be shared as the election gets closer.
