In case you missed it, the next Edmonton election is happening October 20, 2025. That means now is a great time to pay attention and get to know who is running to represent you on city council as Mayor or your local councillor, as well as school trustees for the Edmonton Catholic or public school boards for the next 4 years.

With multiple levels of government in Canada, it’s easy to get lost in what falls in which level’s jurisdiction. Today, we’ll help you brush up on what our municipal government does, and stuff you should consider when you finally cast your ballot on (or before) election day! 

What does Council do? 

In Alberta, Council is the governing body of the municipality and the custodian of its legislative and administrative powers. Under the Municipal Government Act city councillors have many duties, of which the ones that affect us most directly are:

• To consider the welfare and interests of the city as a whole and bring to Council’s attention ideas that promote its welfare or interests;
• To participate in developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the city, and
• To participate in Council and Council Committee meetings in support of these duties.

In addition to performing a councillor’s duties, the Mayor (ie. Chief Elected Official) is also:

• The city’s spokesperson;
• The chairperson of Council;
• The consensus-seeker among council members;
• The liaison with other levels of government, and
• The key representative with regard to ceremonial responsibilities.

Edmonton has 12 municipal electoral wards, each represented by a city councillor. You can search by your registered address to find your municipal electoral ward. Then check the nominated candidate list to see who is running to represent you! 

What is a school board trustee?

In addition to voting for a mayor and councillor for your ward, the municipal election also gives you the opportunity to elect trustees for the Edmonton Catholic or public school boards (K to 12) for the next 4 years. School boards have many responsibilities, including:

• Governing the affairs of the school authority under the Education Act;
• Ensuring students’ needs remain at the forefront in Alberta’s education system;
• Driving provincial policy changes, and
• Promoting public education as key to a strong democracy.

One trustee is elected to each of the city’s Catholic wards (7 total) or public school wards (9 total), but trustees don’t just represent one school, neighbourhood or community. Elected trustees work together to make decisions based on the needs of the entire municipal division.

What does it all mean for you?

Voting in the municipal election is important, because your city government’s policies and decisions are the ones that have the most direct impact on your daily life. Where the federal government oversees big things like foreign policy or national defense, and the province makes decisions about health care and natural resources, the municipal government is responsible for things like:

• Our access to safe and affordable public transportation;
• Maintaining and clearing local roads and bike lanes for our daily commutes;
• Emergency services;
• Garbage, water, and sewage systems;
• Maintaining our local parks, rec centres, and libraries;
• Supporting arts and culture, and
• Planning our streets and buildings. 

So if you’ve ever felt unsafe taking public transportation around the city, or you’ve popped a tire on a giant pothole downtown (this really happened to me), or you think your local park needs some revitalization, these are all things that city council has the power to improve.  

And whether or not you’re a student who parents, voting for school board trustees is also an important decision. Trustees play a critical role in shaping the future of education for more than 700,000 public, Catholic, and francophone students across Alberta, from kindergarten to grade 12. Someday these students could be UAlberta undergrads like you are now, and their future success in their studies could be heavily impacted by the programs and policies supported by elected school trustees today.

In summary, in the upcoming municipal election you’ll be voting for local representatives who have the most direct impact on your daily life and the services you frequently access, as well as the education of children in the K to 12 school system.

If you want to hear directly from the candidates hoping to be your new mayor, we’re hosting a Mayoral Forum on October 10, 2025 in the Horowitz Theatre (starting 5PM) brought to you by the Edmonton Student Alliance!

This is your opportunity to ask questions, learn where these candidates stand, and make an informed vote.