Candidate resources

You can run for the position of Mayor or one of six Town Council positions if you: 

• have lived within Cochrane boundaries for at least six months before nomination day (Jan. 1 2025) AND
• are eligible to vote in the 2025 municipal election (Canadian citizen, over 18 years old)

You may not run for office if you: 

• are a Town employee (unless you take a leave of absense) beginning from nomination day (Jan. 1 2025)
• owe property taxes or other debt to the Town (over $50)
• have been convicted of an offense under the Election Act in the past 10 years

There's a lot of information to help you get ready to run for a seat on Town Council:

• Check Alberta Municipal Affairs for legislation related to municipalities in Alberta 
• Check Cochrane.ca for local bylaws, legislation and planning documents 
• Read Council agendas and minutes 
• Sit in the gallery at Council meetings or watch the Live Stream of meetings at cochrane.ca
• Talk to Town of Cochrane Executive Leadership team

All candidates are required to: 

• Complete notice of intent
• Complete form 4
• Complete form 5
• Complete a standard criminal record check (you must visit the Cochrane RCMP Detachment in person to obtain, complete, and file the form)
• Complete contact information consent

Once you have printed and completed the above forms, and have been notified that your record check is complete, please book an appointment to file your submission in person with the Returning Officer, or designate, at the Cochrane RancheHouse during the town's hours of operation by 12 noon on Nomination Day, September 22, 2025.  To book an appointment, please contact: election@cochrane.ca or phone 403-851-2509. 

Attention: Returning Officer
101  RancheHouse Road Cochrane, Alberta T4C 2K8

Candidates seeking information about the Town, including departments, plans and services, are encouraged to begin by exploring Cochrane.ca, which offers a wide range of resources.

If you have further questions after reviewing the website, please contact the Returning Officer at legislative@cochrane.ca.

Your inquiry will be directed appropriately. 

CAO Mike Derricott is also available to connect directly with candidates regarding questions about the organization and its services. Such requests can be coordinated through the Returning Officer.

Council meetings are held at the Cochrane RancheHouse on the second and fourth Monday of each month . Committee of the Whole meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month. (Council meets only once in July, and December, no meetings are held in August). Additional commitments for council committees and external partnership appointments. 

Yes. You can view nomination papers at any time after the commencement of the nomination period until the term of office to which the filed nomination papers relate has expired. A person may request to examine the filed nomination papers during regular business hours and in the presence of the returning officer.

Contact the Town of Cochrane to make an appointment with the Returning Officer to view nomination papers.

A recount may be made if the Returning Officer is shown reasonable grounds by a candidate, official agent or a scrutineer that the count of votes is inaccurate. The Returning Officer may also consider a recount based on the number of rejected ballots, valid ballots objected to, or any administrative or technical errors. For more information on recount, see Local Authorities Election Act. 

If a count results in a tie, the Returning Officer will write the names of those candidates in the tie on separate pieces of paper and will "draw a name from a hat". The name on the paper pulled from the hat is considered to receive one more vote. For more information see section 99 of the Local Authorities Election Act.

The Local Authorities Election Act allows for Municipalities to request a criminal record check for all candidates. Cochrane’s Council requested this be included in the new Election Bylaw that was passed in 2024. The legislation requires these criminal record checks to be published in their original format on our website, with the exception of the candidate’s address being redacted.

Section 23.1 in Cochrane's Election Bylaw states election candidate signs not requiring a development permit must have a maximum area of 1.5m² and maximum height of 2.0m as per the Cochrane Land Use Bylaw (Sec 10.2, Table 44). These signs are only permitted to be posted 35 days prior to Election Day, and must be removed within 72 hours following Election Day. 

Yes. All members of council are expected to attend Council orientation. Orientation includes the Council Retreat (October 23-25) and information sessions scheduled for October 31 and November 7.