Durham Region is inviting residents, local workers and property owners to apply for volunteer positions on seven advisory committees that provide input to Regional Council and staff on issues ranging from transit and accessibility to agriculture and climate.
Applications are now open for the Durham advisory committees, with completed forms due by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026.
The Region says advisory committee members are appointed by Regional Council and help bring community knowledge and subject-matter expertise into local decision-making.
Seven Durham advisory committees seeking applicants
The current recruitment covers the following groups:
- Accessibility Advisory Committee
- Durham Active Transportation Committee
- Durham Agricultural Advisory Committee
- Durham Environment and Climate Advisory Table
- Durham Region Anti-Racism Taskforce
- Durham Region Transit Advisory Committee
- Energy from Waste – Waste Management Advisory Committee
Each committee focuses on a different area of Regional policy or service delivery.
For example, the Accessibility Advisory Committee provides advice on improving accessibility in Regional programs, services and facilities, while the Durham Active Transportation Committee provides input on walking, cycling and other active transportation issues.
The Agricultural Advisory Committee focuses on agricultural and rural matters, and the Transit Advisory Committee provides input on conventional, community bus and specialized transit services.
Who can apply?
To be eligible for appointment to one of the Durham advisory committees, an applicant must be a resident of Durham Region, an employee of a business operating in Durham Region or an owner of property in the region.
Regional employees and members of Regional Council are not eligible to serve as citizen appointees.
The Region says appointments are made on a volunteer basis. Applicants should review the terms of reference for the committee they are interested in because additional eligibility requirements may apply depending on the group.
People interested in serving on more than one committee can apply to multiple groups, but a separate application must be completed for each position.
How the committees work
Advisory committees meet on schedules established for each group. Some meet monthly, while others meet quarterly or several times per year.
Meetings may be held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and electronic participation, or may be held fully virtually. Members can participate electronically through Microsoft Teams when that format is available.
Committee meetings are open to the public, and Regional Council may seek advice from the groups when considering decisions connected to their areas of responsibility.
Once applications close, submissions are reviewed and recommendations are brought forward for Regional Council to make the final appointments.
How to apply by Oct. 26
The Region is accepting online applications through its advisory committee application form.
Completed applications can also be submitted to the Regional Clerk by email or mail. The deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26.
Applicants are responsible for making sure their application is received by the Regional Clerk’s Office before the deadline.
The Region says the recruitment is intended to bring a range of community perspectives into decision-making on issues that affect residents across Durham.
For people with experience or an interest in transit, accessibility, agriculture, climate, anti-racism, active transportation or waste management, the current Durham advisory committees recruitment offers a direct opportunity to contribute to Regional discussions without holding elected office.
