Why serve on Council?
Council members are elected every four years and set public policy and direction for the Town of Cochrane, adopt bylaws and set strategic priorities for municipal staff. Serving on Town Council can be one of the most rewarding ways to contribute to your community.
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.
Important Dates
- General election nomination period: Jan. 2 to Sept. 22, 2025
- File a nomination from Jan. 2 to Sept. 22, 2025, at noon to become a candidate for the 2025 General Election.
Getting prepared
If you're thinking about running, here are some ways to get started:
- Check out council agendas and meeting minutes on Cochrane.ca
- Watch Council meetings in person on the second and fourth Monday of each month at the Cochrane Ranchehouse or watch the livestream on cochrane.ca
- Alberta Municipal Affairs has resources about municipal laws, and you can find local bylaws on cochrane.ca
- Talk to Cochrane's Senior Management team
Campaign: What to keep in mind
Campaign Advertising
Here are some quick guidelines on where and how to advertise:
- No advertising allowed in or near polling stations
- Campaign signs on private property are allowed with the owner’s permission; no signs on certain roads and near crosswalks or stop signs
- Signs on public property are not allowed before becoming an official candidate
- Signs must be removed by 8 pm on October 22, 2025 (48 hours post election)
Bank accounts & tracking contributions
If contributions (including self-funded) exceed $1,000, candidates must open a separate bank account just for campaign funds. Every contribution and expense must have a receipt, and contributors giving more than $50 should provide their name and address.
Campaign records should be kept for at least three years after filing financial disclosures (due by March 1, 2026).
Campaign Expenses
Campaign expenses include:
- Advertising or promotional materials.
- Broadcasting, distributing, or publishing ads.
- Paying people for campaign-related work.
- Renting meeting spaces.
For more details on allowable expenses, refer to Part 5.1 of the Elections Act
Contribution limits and rules
Following Alberta’s Local Authorities Election Act, candidates can fundraise and spend within set limits. No contributions may be accepted until the nomination period commences (January 1, 2025) AND a candidate has filed their nomination papers*. During the Campaign Period, following the filing of nomination papers:
Here’s an overview:
- Your own contribution: Up to $10,000 to your campaign
- Contributions from others: Up to $5,000 from any Alberta resident
- No anonymous donations: Any anonymous funds must be returned or donated to charity if the contributor can't be identified.
Candidates, or those acting on their behalf, should not directly or indirectly solicit contributions if it is known or ought to be known that the potential contributor:
• Does not ordinarily reside in Alberta,
• Is a prohibited organization, including a corporation or unincorporated organization, or
• Will exceed the contribution limits.
Become a candidate
Step 1. Check eligibility
You can run for the position of Mayor or one of the six Town Council positions if you:
- have lived within Cochrane Town boundaries for at least six months beofre nomination day AND
- are eligible to vote in the 2025 municipal election (Canadian citizen, over 18 years old)
You cannot run if you:
- are a Town employee (unless you take a leave of absence)
- owe more than $50 in property taxes or other debts to the Town
- were convicted of an offense under the Election Act in the past 10 years
Step 2 - Notice of intent to be nominated
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Step 3 - File nomination
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