How to run for Council in Melville

On the day you file your nomination paper for councillor in Melville, you must be:

• A Canadian citizen.
• At least 18 years old.
• A resident of Melville, OR a non-resident owner or tenant of land in Melville (or the spouse of one).
• Not legally disqualified from running.

Councillors in Melville vote on by-laws, the annual budget, and local services like parks, transit, and zoning. They are the most direct point of contact between residents and city hall.

Filing happens at the local Returning Officer, in person during regular office hours and on nomination day until 2:00 PM. You'll need to bring:

• Nomination paper, signed in the presence of the clerk or a commissioner of oaths.
• 25 voters (cities ≥ 20,000) or 5 voters (smaller cities and towns) from eligible electors of Melville.
• Government-issued photo ID showing your name and qualifying address.
• Filing fee: None at the provincial level. Some municipalities charge a nominal fee by bylaw.

• Smallest SK city: at ~4,500 residents Melville is the smallest jurisdiction governed by the Cities Act — disqualification under s.120 still carries the 12-year ban despite the small size.
• Long-serving councillors: Vince Thiessen is in his fourth term — Melville's incumbents tend to stay on.

Voters in Melville also choose:

• Mayor — At-large. **Joe Kirwan** elected Nov 13, 2024 — first elected to council in 2016, ran for mayor in 2024 after two terms as councillor.
• Public School Trustee — Good Spirit School Division — Subdivision-based.
• Catholic Separate Trustee — Christ the Teacher Catholic SD — Catholic supporters only.

• Saskatchewan 2028Candidates' Guide
• The Local Government Election Act, 2015

Considering a different office? We have plain-English guides for every position on the Melville ballot:

• How to run for Mayor in Melville
• How to run for School Trustee in Melville
• Browse every Canadian municipality