Meaford mayoral candidate Caryn Colman ends her campaign, but her name stays on the ballot

Caryn Colman, one of three candidates for mayor of the Municipality of Meaford, has ended her campaign. She says she doesn't want to split the vote over TC Energy's proposed Ontario Pumped Storage project.

Her name will still appear on the ballot. Meaford's internet and telephone voting opened Oct. 16 and runs until 8 p.m. on Oct. 26.

Colman announced her decision in a media release on Friday, Oct. 16, the first day of voting. The Meaford Independent and the Owen Sound Current both published her statement.

"I don't want to split the vote," Colman said in the release. "Given the threat of TC Energy's Ontario Pumped Storage project, this is an extremely urgent election for Meaford. I want to clear the deck for the constituents to have a simple choice about who they want for Mayor."

"I feel proud that I met my objectives," she added, according to The Meaford Independent, "and will always be grateful to all my supporters who rooted for me every step of the way."

The Banner has asked Colman whether she is endorsing another candidate.

Why her name is still on the ballot

Under Ontario's Municipal Elections Act, 1996, a candidate can withdraw only by filing a written withdrawal in the clerk's office before 2 p.m. on nomination day. Meaford's election calendar lists Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, as nomination day and the deadline to withdraw.

Once that deadline passes, the Act removes a certified candidate from an election only if the candidate dies or becomes ineligible before voting closes. It has no similar step for a candidate who stops campaigning. Ballots list certified candidates in alphabetical order by surname.

Meaford's official list of certified candidates shows three people running for mayor: Colman, Keaveney and Perks.

The Banner has asked the Municipality of Meaford how votes cast for Colman will be counted and reported.

The two candidates still campaigning

Shirley Keaveney, Meaford's current deputy mayor, and Justin Perks are still in the race. Neither has commented publicly on Colman's decision.

The two have taken different positions on the pumped storage project. In answers published Oct. 15 in Bayshore Broadcasting's candidate questionnaire, Keaveney noted that the project is proposed on federally owned land, so "Meaford has NO jurisdiction over the approval process." She added: "I am keeping an open mind until we have the scientific and technical data to prove whether the project will bring harm to this municipality and Georgian Bay or not."

In the same questionnaire, Perks wrote: "I am opposed to TC Energy's proposed pumped storage project." He said that as mayor he would "push to revisit Meaford's conditional willing-host support, subject to its legal obligations."

The Banner has asked Keaveney and Perks for comment on Colman's decision.

Why it matters outside Meaford

TC Energy is proposing a 1,000-megawatt pumped storage facility on part of the Army training centre lands in Meaford, according to the municipality's project page. The page says the federal impact assessment began in 2026, and that the project is targeting a final investment decision in 2028. Meaford council passed a resolution on Feb. 27, 2023, conditionally supporting the project. In July 2026, council authorized the mayor and clerk to sign a pre-development agreement with TC Energy.

Meaford's mayor also sits on Grey County council. The council is made up of the mayor and deputy mayor from each of Grey County's nine member municipalities, including the Township of Chatsworth.

How to vote in Meaford

Meaford electors vote by internet or telephone, using the information in their Voter Information Letter, until 8 p.m. on Oct. 26. Electors who have questions, or who did not get a letter, can contact elections@meaford.ca or 519-538-1060 ext. 1234, or visit a Voting Help Centre with identification. Details are at meafordvotes.ca. Our earlier story covers how Meaford's voting works.

---

Your turn: Should candidates be able to take their names off the ballot after nomination day? Email news@chatsworthbanner.ca or use the tip form on our site.