• Twenty-three candidates running for Stouffville’s six ward council seats are expected to participate in a Sept. 24 election forum at Royal Stouffville Golf Club.
  • Council candidates will also participate in a meet-and-greet running from 5 to 9 p.m.
  • Organizers are preparing for a protest targeting Councillor Rick Upton.
  • The Ward 4 incumbent acknowledged his responsibility for several harassment allegations made against him last year.
  • The demonstration will be permitted only in a designated area outside the venue.
  • Organizers say measures are in place to address any related disruptions during the forum.

 

Twenty-three candidates seeking Stouffville’s six ward council seats will get a chance to address their prospective constituents Sept. 24, when the Greater Stouffville Chamber and Stouffville Public Library host a 2026 municipal election forum at the Royal Stouffville Golf Club.

With Mayor Iain Lovatt acclaimed to a third term, the evening will skip a mayoral debate and instead centre on the ward races. The Chamber says the format is intended to give residents and the local business community an important opportunity to hear from candidates.

Chamber President Indu Bains said the format was designed to ensure business owners and operators have an opportunity to hear from those wishing to represent their wards.

“I think it’s very important that business owners understand that they have that voice, and that their voice matters, because the ward councillor directly impacts the operation of their business,” Bains said. “We want everyone to have as much information as possible.”

A meet-and-greet will run from 5 to 9 p.m., giving attendees informal access to candidates throughout the evening. Six scheduled ward forums will take place in a separate room, allowing residents to hear from those seeking their vote.

The forums will vary in length based on the number of candidates in each ward. Ward 1’s two-candidate forum is scheduled for 5:30 to 5:49 p.m., while Ward 4’s seven-candidate forum will run from 7:20 to 8:11 p.m. The full ward-by-ward schedule is available through the Chamber’s event page.

Each ward forum will feature three questions: one from the business community, one from residents, and one selected randomly from questions submitted by attendees. The business question will be shared with candidates in advance, while the residential and random questions will not.

The Chamber gathered its business-focused question from the local business community, while the Library led on the residential question, Bains explained. Candidates have also been asked to remain throughout the evening, allowing them to mingle with voters and answer questions that may not have come up during their scheduled forum.

Preparing for Protests

Both the Chamber and the Library are aware that a demonstration against Ward 4 Councillor Rick Upton is planned.

An Integrity Commissioner’s report made public in late November found that Upton engaged in a persistent pattern of inappropriate, unwelcome, and sexualized conduct toward two Town employees.

Upton apologized during a Dec. 3 Council meeting and acknowledged responsibility for several of the allegations. Council subsequently imposed a formal reprimand, a 90-day pay suspension, mandatory remedial training, and restrictions on his interactions with Town Staff.

Upton’s decision to remain in office and seek re-election prompted calls for his resignation, including from residents speaking at Council and in local online discussions.

Bains said the Chamber and Library are aware that a protest could take place, telling potential participants that “it is a freedom we have here in Canada, and you are absolutely welcome to protest.”

That activity, however, will only be permitted within a designated area outside the venue. Bains noted that space will sit in a highly visible spot near the entrance, keeping the demonstration visible without disrupting the ward forums.

“That way it’s not disrupting the actual forum itself, and the meet and greet can continue in a non-disruptive way,” she said, adding that organizers have a protocol in place should any disruption occur inside.

The prospect of a large public response is not without precedent. When Council considered the Integrity Commissioner’s findings in December, a significant turnout at the meeting was expected. That crowd, however, did not materialize.

With Thursday’s public gathering planned, it remains to be seen how many residents will attend, or whether it will affect Upton’s decision to participate.

A Facebook post promoting the demonstration describes it as peaceful and silent, directed solely at Upton, and unaffiliated with the Chamber, the Library, or Royal Stouffville Golf Club.