St. Catharines residents will go to the polls Oct. 26 to elect the city's next mayor and council, CHCH reported, with the municipal campaign season now underway across Niagara's largest city.

The nomination period is almost over. The deadline to submit or withdraw nominations is Aug. 21 at 2 p.m., giving prospective candidates only days left to file their paperwork.

The full list of key election dates is available on the city's website, which will be updated regularly as the race develops. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name alongside a brief biography, and individual ward candidate lists will follow the same format.

Siscoe seeking second term

Mayor Mat Siscoe announced in July that he will run for re-election. He has served as mayor since November 2022, following a stint on council representing St. Patrick's Ward from 2010 to January 2022.

During his time in office, Siscoe established the St. Catharines OutReach and Engagement Fund, known as SCORE, which supports local non-profit organizations in the community.

Six wards up for grabs

Voters across St. Catharines's six wards will choose councillors alongside the mayor. Each ward has distinct boundaries drawn along major roads, the Welland Canal and the Lake Ontario shoreline.

Ward 1 – Merritton is bounded by Jacobson Avenue, Highway 406, Geneva Street, Welland Avenue, the QEW, Eastchester Avenue East, the Welland Canal and St. David's Road.

Ward 2 – St. Andrew's is bounded by St. David's Road, 15 Mile Creek, Fourth Avenue, Highway 406 and Jacobson Avenue. Ward 3 – St. George's takes in the area bounded by Eastchester Avenue East, the QEW, Welland Avenue, Geneva Street, Scott Street and the Welland Canal.

Ward 4 – St. Patrick's is bounded by Highway 406, Fourth Avenue, 15 Mile Creek, the QEW, Scott Street and Geneva Street.

Ward 5 – Grantham stretches to the lakeshore, bounded by Scott Street, Geneva Street, Lake Ontario and Read Road. Ward 6 – Port Dalhousie is bounded by Scott Street, the QEW, 15 Mile Creek, Lake Ontario and Geneva Street.

Residents who want to confirm which ward they live in or review the key dates for voting can find the information on the city's website.

The vote comes four years after Siscoe first won the mayor's chair in 2022, ending his decade-plus run as the Ward 4 councillor for St. Patrick's.