INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
NOTICE OF NOMINATION DAY
NOTICE OF ELECTION , ADVANCE VOTE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTER IDENTIFICATION
INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES
2025 Key Election Timeline and Key Dates
| Nomination Period | Jan 1st – Sep 22nd |
| Nomination Day. (Nominations are closed at 12:00 pm on the same day) |
September 22nd , 2025
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| Election Day! | October 20th, 2025 |
| Advanced Poll | October 16th (8:30 am – 4:30 pm) |
| Deadline for applications for a recount based on concerns at voting station | October 22nd , 2025 |
| Statement of results posted | October 24th, 2025 |
| Council Orientation | October 29th, 2025 |
| Organizational Meeting | Before November 3rd, 2025 |
| First Council Meeting | TBD at the Organizational Meeting |
Candidate Qualifications
- at least 18 years of age
- a Canadian citizen
- a resident of the MD of Smoky River since March 22, 2025
- not otherwise ineligible or disqualified
Notice of Intent
Notice of Intent to Become a Candidate
Under Section 147.21 of the LAEA, any individual who intends to run for municipal office and wishes to accept donations or incur expenses for their campaign before the nomination period must first file a Notice of Intent to Become a Candidate for Municipal Office with the local municipality.
2025 Candidate Nomination Package
The Candidate Information Package provides detailed information that applies to all candidates:
NOMINATION
FORM 4- Nomination Paper and Candidate’s Acceptance
FORM 5 – Candidate Financial Information
As per the Local Authorities Election Act, Part 1, Section 27, both Form 4 & Form 5 must be submitted together.
In addition, candidates will be asked to complete a Consent for Disclosure of Potential Information Form to allow posting their contact information to the MD’s website.
NOMINATION CHECKLIST
NOMINATION PROCESS CHECKLIST FOR PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES
This checklist provides an overview of the nomination process for the 2025 Municipal General Election and is intended to assist potential candidates and is not a substitute for legal advice. It is recommended that you obtain a copy of the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) and other relevant legislation and that you seek legal and accounting advice from professionals or contact Municipal Affairs regarding legislated requirements.
Check Eligibility
Confirm that you are eligible to run in the 2025 General Municipal Election as a candidate.
You must be:
- At least 18 years old;
- a Canadian citizen;
- a resident of the MD of Smoky River for at least 6 consecutive months immediately preceding nomination day (January 1, 2025); and
- not otherwise ineligible or disqualified. There may be reasons you are ineligible to run as a candidate – refer to the LAEA
Complete Form 4: Candidate Nomination and Acceptance Form
Obtain signatures. You must gather a minimum of 5 signatures, and residents who sign your nomination form must be eligible to vote. They must be:
- at least 18 years old;
- a Canadian citizen;
- reside in the MD of Smoky River No.130 on the date they sign the nomination papers.
It is important to note that only original handwritten signatures can be accepted.
Electronic or photocopied signatures are not valid.
Have Form 4 Commissioned.
You must have Form 4 commissioned by a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public in and for Alberta if you intend to submit your nomination papers by mail or courier.
If you intend to file your nomination papers in person, the Returning Officer is able to commission your papers.
Complete Form 5: Candidate Financial Information
Do not use personal banking information.
Complete the consent for disclosure of potential Information Form
The information provided on this form will be released to the public and media as required and posted on the MD website.
CANDIDATE INFORMATION
List of Candidates who have given Notice of Intention to be nominated
Please note that submitting a Notice of Intent to Run does not replace the nomination process, which begins on January 2nd, 2025. Submitting a notice of intent does not mean a person is nominated.
Should there be any changes to the information provided in the Notice of Intent to Run, the candidate must notify the Returning Officer within 48 hours.
The campaign period for the 2025 municipal election is October 31, 2024 until December 31, 2025.
Below is the list of candidates who have submitted a Notice of Intent to Run.
Please note that the table will be updated from time to time.
| Division 1 | Paula Guindon (Incumbent) |
| Division 2 | Rodrique Johnson |
| Division 3 | Alain Blanchette (Incumbent) |
| Division 4 | Gilles Roy (Incumbent), Amanda Hausler, Pierre Boulet |
| Division 5 | Marc Michaud , Emily Plihal |
| Division 6 | Manon Turcotte , Christine Griffin |
Below is the list of Candidates who have submitted Nomination papers
| Division 1 | Paula Guindon (Incumbent) |
| Division 2 | Rodrique Johnson |
| Division 3 | Alain Blanchette (Incumbent) |
| Division 4 | Gilles Roy (Incumbent), Pierre Boulet , Amanda Hausler |
| Division 5 | Emily Plihal, Marc Michaud |
| Division 6 | Manon Turcotte, Christine Griffin |
INFORMATION FOR VOTERS
FINAL LIST OF CANDIDATES
MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF SMOKY RIVER NO.130
| Division 4 – Falher | Gilles Roy, Amanda Hausler, Pierre Boulet |
| Division 5 – McLennan | Emily Plihal, Marc Michaud |
| Division 6 – Jean Cote | Manon Turcotte, Christine Griffin |
HIGH PRAIRIE SCHOOL DIVISION
| SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE |
Lynn Skrepnek (Incumbent) Karin Scholl (Incumbent) Josee Aubin |
ELECTION DATE : OCTOBER 20, 2025 TIME: 10:00 AM TO 8:00 PM
| Location | Ward or Electoral Division Number (if applicable) |
| M.D. of Smoky River No. 130 Municipal Office, 701 Main Street, Falher, AB | Division 4 |
| McLennan Legion #153, 3 3 Ave, McLennan, AB | Division 5 |
| Jean Cote Community Hall, 4902 50 Ave, Jean Cote, AB | Division 6 |
Advance voting has been arranged for electors who wish to vote prior to Election day. You can cast your ballot in advance on October 16th, 2025 between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
| Voting Station | Ward or Electoral Division Number |
| M.D of Smoky River No.130 Municipal Office, 701 Main Street, Falher, AB | Division 4, Division5, Division 6, Ward 1 (School Board) |
To vote in the 2025 municipal election in MD of Smoky River, you must be:
• At least 18 years of age;
• A Canadian Citizen;
• A resident of the MD of Smoky River on the day of election
Voter Registration
New for 2025: With the proclamation of the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 municipalities are required to maintain a Permanent Electors Register of residents who are eligible to vote. Any individual who wishes to vote on Election Day must first be registered.
Register to Vote
All Voters must be on the permanent Electors Registry.
To be ready to vote, please confirm your information is correct and/or register to vote, please visit Voterlink, from which the MD receives its list of eligible voters.
Your ID requirements depend on whether you’re registered on the Permanent Electors Register.
Not registered yet? Register or update your information at Voterlink by September 30th, 2025
If You Are Registered
You are required to show valid government-issued identification with your name and photograph. If you are registered, it is recommended to use one of the following common types of identification:
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| Note: If a registered voter can not produce government-issued identification with their name and photograph, the voter will follow the steps below for non-registered voters. | |
If You Are NOT Registered
You must:
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Complete a Statement of Elector Eligibility at the voting station.
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Provide valid government-issued identification with your name, photograph and current residential address.
Recommended ID examples:
- Alberta Driver’s License
- Alberta Identification Card
If You Do Not Have Photo ID
If you are a register/non-registered voter unable to produce government issued photo identification, you’ll be required to provide one piece of Valid ID with your name and current address. It is recommended to use the following common types of identification:
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For the complete list of Valid ID, visit: |
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If You Have No Identification With Your Current Address
- Provide one piece of Valid ID with your name; and
- Have a registered voter vouch for your current address provided they meet the legislative requirements and complete a Statement of Voucher. See Vouching tab for more information on this.
New for 2025:
The province has introduced a significant change to the rules surrounding vouching. An individual vouching is now only allowed to validate another person’s address and not their identity. Due to this change, all voters require valid identification with their name, otherwise it is not possible for a person to vote.
An individual can have another voter vouch for them if:
- The individual requesting provides valid identification to prove identity (i.e., name).
- The individual requesting submits a statement by filling out a form provided by the Election Officer at a Voting Station.
- The individual requesting is accompanied by another voter who can validate their current address.
- This voter who is validating an address needs to be registered and listed on the Permanent Electors Register.
- The voter who is validating an address completes a Statement of Voucher Form.
- The voter who is validating may vouch for more than one person ONLY if every person they vouch for shares the same current address.
- A scrutineer shall not vouch for any person.
Statement of Voucher Form sets out that the voucher:
- knows the person,
- knows the person resides at the address indicated on the statement, and
- has not been vouched for themselves.
HIGH PRAIRIE SCHOOL DIVISION ELECTIONS
Every four years, Albertans vote for school board trustees during municipal elections. The next election will happen on Monday, October 20, 2025.
To learn more about school division elections, click here Elections 2025 – High Prairie School Division