Niagara Municipal Races – Election 2026: Pelham and Thorold

Candidate registrations closed across Niagara on Aug. 21, and the list for all 12 municipalities has been finalized. There were a few last-minute entries, some surprise additions and omissions, and evidence of a healthy interest in elective service. An overview of each municipality, its candidates, and the issues dominating the landscape will occupy this column’s space for the next while. Covering each candidate will not be possible, but providing some context for each town and city, focusing on the key races, and airing out the areas of disagreement, agreement, and compromise will allow the reader a chance to become better informed, learn some things about matters happening in other locales, and further investigate specific problems that they may believe the candidates are not adequately addressing. Remember, there will be no Regional Council races this term, and how the threat of amalgamation gets handled will come down to the 12 mayors and the regional chair Ontario Premier Doug Ford appoints later in the fall. 

Having covered the eastern portion of Niagara and St. Catharines, the analysis shifts to central Niagara, including the four municipalities that constitute the federal riding of Niagara South: Welland, Pelham, Port Colborne, and Thorold. This series of articles will attempt to set the stage for the coming campaign and outline what to expect as the election progresses through its phases. Regularly revisiting what’s happening on the ground will keep the races current and give readers up-to-date developments they can research at their convenience. 

PELHAM

2022

• Turnout – 32 per cent
• Mayor – Marvin Junkin 58 per cent               
• Candidates for councillor – eight 

2026

• Candidates for mayor – four
• Candidates for councillor – 13

The last two municipalities to be covered in Niagara South are the Town of Pelham and the City of Thorold. Pelham’s incumbent mayor, Marvin Junkin, will run for re-election against three opponents. Junkin’s website emphasizes his experience and vision. His vision includes community involvement, financial stability, economic viability, public safety and updated facilities. The other candidates have never held elective office, but Wally Braun has previously run for town and regional council. Braun’s platform opposes amalgamation, supports growth management to protect agricultural lands, and encourages green energy policies that promote smart technology to reduce household costs and ease the strain on town infrastructure. Local businessman Frank Adamson ran against Junkin in 2022, capturing 42 per cent of the vote and could pose a serious threat to the mayor. Like Junkin, he would like voters to consider his experience an important asset. His community involvement spans many sectors, including his current service on the Board of Wellspring Niagara (Chair of the Fundraising Committee), President of the Pelham Non-Profit Housing Board, and Vice-Chair of the Pelham Active Transportation Committee. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 613, is active on the Poppy Drive Committee, and has recently accepted an appointment to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation Board. Newcomer Randy Gananathan rounds out the mayoral race. Gananathan relocated to Pelham in recent years and hopes to bring a new vision for governance, prioritizing increased broadband connectivity across Pelham’s three wards to ensure seamless global linkage for homes and businesses. 

Pelham’s council races are much more competitive than in 2022. In Ward One, two candidates will be elected, and both incumbents, Bryce Brunarski (who was appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy in 2025) and Kevin Ker, aim to retain their seats while Kevin Grebe and Wayne Olson seek to replace them. In Ward Two, incumbents Brian Eckhardt and John Wink are both seeking re-election to the four-year term. Seeking to unseat them are local advocates Barbara Ann “Barb” Rybiak and Thomas Svob. Ward Three has two sitting councillors facing a challenge this year after being acclaimed in 2022. Shellee Niznik and Robert “Bob” Hildebrandt will have to defend their seats against Kevin James Coyle, Jane Durotoye, and Georgio Panici. 

How to manage rapid growth, tax increases, infrastructure capacity, council transparency, traffic congestion on main arteries like Highway 20, and the threat of amalgamation will dominate candidate nights and what these political hopefuls will hear when they knock on doors or engage with the electorate.

THOROLD

2022

• Turnout – 25 per cent
• Mayor – Terry Ugulini 75 per cent               
• Candidates for councillor – 19 

2026

• Candidates for mayor – two
• Candidates for councillor – 22

In Thorold, the retirement of Mayor Terry Ugulini has set the stage for a heavyweight contest for council’s top job. The race will dominate most of the voters’ attention as former mayor Henry D’Angela (2006-2010) brings his 30 years of political experience to a campaign against Regional Councillor Tim Whalen (since 2018), who also served on Thorold City Council from 2003 until his election to his regional seat. On his website, D’Angela lists his 22+ years of public service and his priorities across six foundational blocks (strong neighbourhoods, supporting local businesses, smarter infrastructure, open and transparent government, responsible taxes, and affordable and senior housing) as reasons to support him. This author could not find a website for Tim Whalen, nor was one listed on the Thorold registered candidates site. From public pronouncements and other sources, Whalen has articulated an interest in ensuring integrated regional transportation; he has advocated for the completion of infrastructure projects such as the South Niagara Hospital and the South Niagara wastewater system. He has also spoken to the need for Thorold to have a strong voice at Regional Council and for the mayor and city council to work collaboratively to get things done for the people of Thorold. 

With the council reduced to six councillors and twenty-two candidates on the ballot, there will be a scramble to see who returns to office and whether any fresh faces emerge. All six incumbents have registered to run, including Mike De Divitiis (originally registered to run for mayor but dropped out to seek a second council term), Nella Dekker (D’Epiro), Carmen DeRose, David Jim Handley, Tim O’Hare, and Ken Sentance. The challengers list comprises the following: Stephany Brennan, Kieran Daniels, Kamal Fodil, Ashraf Hindi, Gurinder Kaur, Asad Mahmood, Chantal McCollum, Brandon Mckenney-Somerville, Titi Oyeleye, Clayton Pye, Chris Richards, Mal Romanin, Sarika Sherfudeen, Ken Steeve, James Symons, and Rae Whitty. 

Several council candidates, such as Daniels, Fodil, Hindi, Kaur, Mahmood, McCollum, O’Hare, Richards, Sherfudeen, and Steeve, feature websites. Each candidate highlights their strengths, addresses the issues they plan to prioritize, and usually presents information about their background and experience. The voter who seeks to be informed can visit the Thorold city website (Thorold Council Candidates) and research the candidates who have presented their ideas online. As for the other candidates, they will have pamphlets, emails, and public appearances where voters can ask questions or learn more about the people in their communities who wish to represent them on city council. Regardless of how much advertising or name recognition any candidate has, voters can contact them, request a phone call, try to meet them at candidates’ nights or talk to those who know them from other community interactions. Under pressure from the provincial government, Thorold Council voted 8-1 to reduce its size to six seats. Unlike many other municipalities in Niagara, Thorold has no ward system, so the seats, as in Niagara Falls, are at-large. That means twenty-two candidates vying for six seats. Voters will have their work cut out for them trying to keep track of the flyers, the door knocking, and the signs. If nothing else, perhaps it will increase interest and get voter turnout up above the dismal 25 per cent in 2022.