Trustee candidates are on Toronto ballots Monday as residents vote in the city’s 2026 municipal election, with new school board boundaries changing how many public-school races are organized.
Election day voting is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 26, and eligible voters can cast ballots for mayor, city councillor and school board trustee where applicable.
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What changed for Toronto trustee candidates
The Toronto District School Board now has 12 trustee wards, down from 22 under the previous structure.
The new public-school wards combine multiple city wards in several parts of Toronto, meaning voters may be choosing among candidates representing a broader geographic area than in the 2022 municipal election.
For example, TDSB Ward 1 covers city wards 1 and 7, while Ward 7 covers city wards 11, 12 and 13.
Other trustee wards combine two city wards, including Ward 10, which covers city wards 19 and 20.
The city has published separate ward maps and a reference chart because school board boundaries do not always match the city ward used for the mayoral and council races.
How many candidates are running
Toronto certified 361 candidates for the 2026 municipal election, including 118 candidates for school board trustee positions across the city’s four publicly funded school boards.
Those boards are the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.
Four trustee candidates were declared elected by acclamation before election day: Frank D’Amico in TCDSB Ward 6, Nancy Crawford in TCDSB Ward 12, Benoit Fortin in Conseil scolaire Viamonde Ward 2 and Geneviève Oger in Conseil scolaire Viamonde Ward 4.
Voters can review the complete certified candidate list through the City of Toronto’s elections website.
Why the trustee races matter
School trustees help develop and monitor board policies, approve budgets and represent the education interests of residents in their communities.
Their work can affect issues such as special-education services, school boundaries, accommodation reviews, capital planning, student transportation and the allocation of resources among schools.
Ontario describes school boards as responsible for education programs, student achievement and well-being, financial management, school construction and the operation of schools.
Trustee elections are non-partisan, so candidates do not appear on the ballot with formal political-party labels.
Provincial supervision adds an unusual layer
The TDSB has been under provincial supervision since June 27, 2025, after the Ontario government placed control of the board’s administration with the Ministry of Education.
The TDSB says the powers normally held by trustees currently rest with the provincially appointed supervisor, and that this situation also applies to trustees elected in the October 2026 municipal election.
That means the successful candidates will not immediately exercise the full governance powers traditionally associated with the trustee role while supervision remains in place.
The supervision order followed a provincial investigation into the board’s financial affairs and concerns about probable accumulated deficits in the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years.
What Toronto voters need to know
Election day is Monday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters should use the city’s MyVote service to confirm their assigned voting place and school board ward.
School board wards are different from city council wards in several parts of Toronto.
Acceptable identification is required when voting in person.
Anyone who is still in line at 8 p.m. can cast a ballot.
Toronto Elections has also advised voters to review the sample ballot before arriving, particularly because the ballot may include contests for more than one school board depending on the voter’s support designation and eligibility.
The city’s certified candidate list includes the names and, where provided, website links submitted by candidates.
What happens after the polls close
Results will be reported after voting places close and ballots are counted on election night.
Trustee results will be organized by school board ward rather than solely by the city ward used in the mayoral and council contests.
The successful candidates will face a transition period shaped by the new ward boundaries, provincial oversight and the broader debate over governance and financial accountability in Toronto’s school system.
For voters who want to compare candidates before casting a ballot, the official city list remains the most reliable source for confirming who is registered in each trustee race.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Toronto’s 2026 municipal election?
Election day is Monday, October 26, 2026, with voting places open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
How many TDSB trustee wards are there in 2026?
There are 12 Toronto District School Board trustee wards, down from 22 under the previous structure.
How can I find my trustee candidates?
Use the City of Toronto’s official certified candidate list and MyVote service to confirm your school board ward and candidates.
Do school board trustee wards match city council wards?
Not always. Toronto uses separate school board boundaries, and several TDSB wards combine multiple city wards.
Do newly elected TDSB trustees immediately have full powers?
The TDSB remains under provincial supervision, so the powers normally held by trustees currently rest with the provincially appointed supervisor.
Fact-Checked: Key election dates, candidate totals, ward changes, acclamations and TDSB supervision details were checked against City of Toronto, TDSB and Ontario government information.
Disclaimer: Election information can change, so voters should confirm their voting place and ballot details through the official City of Toronto elections service before voting.