General Local Election
City of Burnaby General Local Election–October 17, 2026
Your City–Your Choice
Burnaby's next General Local Election will be held on October 17, 2026 with advance voting opportunities on October 3, 7 and 10. All eligible voters can also vote by mail. You can apply to vote by mail starting August 31.
Eligible voters will vote for:
- 1 Mayor
- 8 City Councillors
- 7 School Trustees
Roles and responsibilities of elected officials
Burnaby Council is the governing body of the City and is elected for a four-year term. Council sets policies, bylaws, and strategic direction that guide the delivery of many local services that affect daily life in Burnaby. These include roads, water and sewer, fire and police services, parks and recreation, waste management, land use planning, and business licensing.
School Trustees serve on the Burnaby Board of Education, a policy making body whose primary function is to establish procedures and guidelines for the operation of Burnaby’s public schools.
The mayor is the City’s head and chief executive officer. The mayor performs the duties of a councillor and carries out additional functions, such as:
- Providing leadership to the council by recommending bylaws, resolutions and other measures to ensure peace, order and good governance of the municipality.
- Presiding at council meetings and communicating information to the council.
- Providing direction to municipal officers while respecting the implementation of municipal policies, programs and other directions of council.
- Performing other duties like attending and hosting ceremonies, meeting visiting dignitaries and officials and participating in fundraising and local community events.
Every council member has the following responsibilities:
- Considering the well-being and interests of the municipality and its community.
- Contributing to the development and evaluation of the policies and programs of the municipality.
- Participating in council and committee meetings and carrying out other duties assigned by the council.
School Trustees for the Burnaby Board of Education set policies for the procedures and guidelines needed to run Burnaby’s public schools.
The Burnaby Board of Education is a policy-making body whose primary function is to establish procedures and guidelines for the operation of Burnaby's 49 public schools. The Board is comprised of seven school trustees elected for a four-year term. It is responsible for:
- Producing a budget.
- Administering expenditures.
- Liaising with individual schools through the School Trustee Liaison Program.
Why vote?
- Local elections shape the services you use every day
- Voting is both your democratic right and responsibility
- You have the opportunity to choose your leaders and hold them accountable
Key dates
| Election worker recruitment | Spring 2026 |
| Candidate nomination period | September 1-11 |
| Campaign period | September 19-October 17 |
| Vote by mail applications open | August 31-October 5 |
| General Voting Day | October 17 |
Have questions?
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 604-294-7944