Competitive races, sustained civic engagement and new leaders ready to shape the future of Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities

Manitoba’s 16 bilingual municipalities welcome a new cohort of elected officials who will contribute to the development and prosperity of their communities over the coming years.

A total of 207 candidates sought office in Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities. Of the 105 elected officials, 46 are newly elected, reflecting both a renewal in municipal governance and residents’ sustained commitment to their communities. This year’s elections involved 424,945 voters, while 33.33% of elected officials were elected by acclamation.

The results also reflect the competitive nature of several races held in bilingual rural municipalities. In a number of communities, voters had a choice among several candidates for the same position, demonstrating a vibrant municipal democracy and a strong commitment to local development. They also underscore the importance of citizen participation in shaping community priorities and the future of their communities.

The Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) looks forward to working with the new municipal councils and with elected officials serving in municipal office for the first time. Their leadership will help address the challenges facing bilingual communities and seize the development opportunities that emerge over the coming years.

“Municipal elections mark the beginning of a new cycle of local governance. The AMBM will work closely with newly elected councils to support them in advancing their priorities, strengthen their organizational capacity and foster the delivery of quality municipal services in both official languages,” said Justin Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the AMBM.

In terms of representation, 74 men and 31 women were elected to municipal councils across Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities. This represents an increase in women’s representation compared with 2022, when 21 women were elected. While continued efforts are needed to achieve greater parity, this increase reflects stronger participation by women in municipal governance and their growing engagement in the development of their communities.

Over the next term, the AMBM will continue to support municipalities in implementing the Municipal Maturity Model (3M), the regulatory framework aimed at delivering municipal services in both official languages. True to its vision, Our Bilingual Advantage, the AMBM will continue to support municipalities in strengthening their capacity and developing municipal services that meet residents’ needs.

The AMBM wishes to recognize the contribution of elected officials who, over the previous term, were actively engaged in serving their communities and advancing municipal bilingualism in Manitoba. Through their participation in AMBM governance bodies and their collaboration with municipal, provincial and federal partners, they helped strengthen the voice of bilingual municipalities, foster the development of municipal services in both official languages and advance issues of importance to the communities they represent.

“Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities can count on elected officials who are deeply committed to their communities. I thank those who are completing their terms for their contribution to the development of our municipalities and the promotion of municipal bilingualism. I also extend my congratulations to those who have been newly elected and wish them every success in their new roles,” said Ivan Normandeau, President of the AMBM.

The AMBM also thanks all candidates, election officials, municipal employees and volunteers who contributed to the smooth conduct of the elections and to the vitality of municipal democracy in Manitoba’s bilingual communities.

The unofficial results of the 2026 municipal elections are available at MBVotes.ca.

About the AMBM 

The AMBM is the voice of bilingual municipal leadership in the province of Manitoba. It represents 16 municipal governments committed to offering services in both official languages to their residents. Together, these municipalities represent the majority of Manitoba’s population. Manitoba’s bilingual municipal leadership also leads the AMBM Group, a consortium of three organizations with complementary mandates: the AMBM, the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba, or CDEM) and Eco-West Canada (EWC), which specializes in the green economy. Complementing each other, these three organizations actively contribute to the development, vitality and sustainability of the province’s Official Language Minority Communities (OLMC) and the province as a whole.

Information: Office of the Chief Executive Officer (O-CEO), 204-289-4077, bcdd-oceo@ambm.ca.