Community partners to host 2026 Sarnia-Lambton municipal election debates

Free public debates at the Imperial Theatre this October will give residents a chance to hear directly from mayoral and council candidates ahead of the fall municipal election.

The Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce, Imperial Theatre, The Book Keeper, The Jean Collective, and Healthy Democracy are presenting the 2026 Sarnia-Lambton Municipal Election Debates. The free, non-partisan public forums are intended to help residents make informed decisions before casting their ballots this fall.

Two debates will take place at the Imperial Theatre:

• Mayoral Candidates Debate — Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, 7 p.m.
• City and County Council Candidates Debate — Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, 7 p.m.

Admission is free, but tickets are required due to the theatre's seating capacity, with all seating general admission. Tickets will be available starting Thursday, July 17 through the Imperial Theatre Box Office, and can be reserved online at imperialtheatre.net, by phone, or in person. To allow as many residents as possible to attend, tickets will be limited to four per transaction.

The Imperial Theatre is located at 168 Christina St. N. in Sarnia. The box office can be reached at 519-344-7469 and is open Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Both debates will also be livestreamed free of charge, with links to be shared through the participating organizations' websites and social media closer to the event. The debates will be interpreted in American Sign Language for Deaf and hard of hearing attendees, and the livestream will include automatically generated closed captioning. Residents requiring additional accessibility accommodations are encouraged to contact the organizers in advance.

Steve Crozier, interim CEO of the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber works to maintain constructive relationships with elected officials across party lines. He said the partnership with the Imperial Theatre, The Book Keeper, The Jean Collective, and Healthy Democracy gives voters a chance to hear directly from candidates and understand the issues that matter most to the community.

Brian Austin Jr., executive director of the Imperial Theatre, said the venue is proud to once again host the conversations. He said offering free admission alongside a livestream is meant to ensure every community member can hear from candidates and make an informed choice on election day.

Susan Chamberlain of The Book Keeper said an independent bookstore is a natural home for the exchange of ideas and civic conversation. She said the store is glad to partner with the Chamber, the Imperial Theatre, Healthy Democracy, and The Jean Collective to encourage community engagement in the electoral process.

Members of the public will be able to submit questions for candidates through the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce. Details on the submission process, debate format, and rules of engagement will be announced closer to the event.

Organizers say the debates have been limited in scope to the mayoral and city and county council races to allow for meaningful discussion within the available time and venue capacity. Additional election information and candidate profiles will be made available through Healthy Democracy's The People's Table as the election approaches.