Vote Today in Thunder Bay, Plus Express Entry Changes Coming Nov. 3

Habari ya Jumatatu, family! Two quick things for Wakenya in Thunder Bay this week: today is municipal Election Day, and a big change to Express Entry lands one week from today.

It’s Election Day in Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay is choosing its mayor, city council and school board trustees today, Monday, October 26, 2026. Here’s what the City says you need to know (City of Thunder Bay):

• Who can vote: Canadian citizens who are at least 18 and live in Thunder Bay, own or rent property here, or are the spouse of someone who does.
• In person: Polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Go to a voting location in your own ward. Your Voter Information Letter lists it, and the City’s page has every ward’s locations.
• Online: You can still vote online until 8 p.m. using the PIN in your Voter Information Letter.
• Bring ID: Take at least one piece of acceptable identification. If you’ve lost your letter, you can still vote in person at a location in your ward as long as you bring ID.
• Free bus ride: The Voter Information Letter also includes a pass for a free transit ride to and from your poll (City of Thunder Bay).

Not sure which ward you’re in? Call the Voter Help Line at 807-622-VOTE (8683) or email ThunderBayVotes@thunderbay.ca.

If you’re a new citizen voting for the first time, karibu, your voice counts! City council decides things that touch our daily lives, from transit and roads to housing and community services.

Express Entry points are changing on November 3

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on October 16 that it is changing how Express Entry scores candidates, starting November 3, 2026 (IRCC news release). In plain words:

• New points for high-wage jobs. Candidates will get extra points for eligible Canadian work experience, with more for experience in a high-wage occupation, or for a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation. IRCC says these include jobs in health care, skilled trades, engineering, technology and education, such as engineers and electricians.
• “High-wage” means the occupation, not your pay. It’s based on the typical earnings for that occupation (at least 1.3 times the median Canadian wage), not your own salary. IRCC will publish the list of high-wage occupations on its website.
• No LMIA needed for a qualifying job offer. From November 3, a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) will no longer be required for a qualifying job offer to earn the new points or to meet job offer rules for the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs. IRCC will still check that offers are genuine.
• Draws will pause for a while. Everyone already in the pool will have their score recalculated automatically. IRCC says that could take up to two weeks, and invitation rounds will be paused during that time.

Worth checking: if you’re in the Express Entry pool and have a job offer, look at whether your profile shows it before November 3, when the new system starts (IRCC backgrounder).

Your Canadian work experience will be recalculated on its own, but job offer points won’t appear unless your profile has the required information.

IRCC has a full explainer on its Express Entry changes page.

If you’re waiting on an application that’s already submitted, IRCC’s Application Status Tracker is back online. We explained how it works in last week’s newcomer update.

And if your situation is complicated, a licensed consultant, a lawyer or the Newcomer Legal Clinic at Lakehead University can help before you change anything.

Know a Kenyan in Thunder Bay who’s in the Express Entry pool? Share this with them, sasa hivi, before the deadline.