Canadians are getting ready to head to the polls next month and cast their votes in the federal election.
Those campaigning in Chatham-Kent-Leamington include Conservative Party candidate Dave Epp (incumbent), Liberal Party candidate Greg Hetherington, New Democratic Party candidate Dan Gelinas, Green Party candidate Mark Vercouteren, and People’s Party candidate Liz Vallee.
Chatham-Kent remained blue during the 2019 federal election, with Epp securing 46 per cent of the vote. Epp took over for Conservative Dave Van Kesteren, who served four terms as MP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington (previously known as Chatham-Kent—Essex.)
Residents within the Chatham-Kent-Leamington riding interested in learning more about local candidates may read about them below.
Election day is on September 20, 2021.
Conservative Party of Canada candidate – Dave Epp
Conservative incumbent Dave Epp in Chatham-Kent-Leamington. (Photo courtesy of www.daveepp.ca)
Dave Epp was first elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Chatham-Kent—Leamington in 2019 and has served on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture.
Epp is a third-generation family farmer from the Leamington area who has also served as the Ontario and Québec Regional Representative of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. He has also been an active member of numerous community and agricultural organizations across Chatham-Kent—Leamington for many years.
Epp and his wife Charlene reside in Leamington and are proud parents of four grown daughters
Liberal Party of Canada candidate - Greg Hetherington
Farm-raised and a small business owner, Greg Hetherington describes himself as a community champion and advocate for service groups and charities. Greg has organized, volunteered and supported thousands of charity events.
Chatham-Kent-Leamington Liberal Candidate Greg Hetherington (Photo via Facebook)
Hetherington is also an advocate for health care and has spent over 20 years on the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation Board as well as 10 years with the Children's Treatment Centre Board, helping to raise millions of dollars for both organizations.
In addition, Hetherington operates CKXS RADIO.
His priorities include strengthening the middle class, protecting people's health, supporting agriculture, protecting the environment, and building a more equal Canada.
New Democratic Party of Canada candidate – Dan Gelinas
Dan Gelinas is a retired autoworker who lives in Wheatley with his wife, Mary Beth.
Chatham-Kent–Leamington NDP Candidate Dan Gelinas (Photo courtesy Dan Gelinas)
Gelinas has dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of all Canadians. He was a political organizer with the NDP since the late ’70 and has organized 42 federal, provincial and municipal elections across Canada.
In 2014 Gelinas was the Ontario New Democratic Party provincial candidate for Chatham-Kent—Essex, receiving 31.11 per cent of the votes.
Dan previously travelled to China with the Hon. Lorne Edmund Nystrom, PC to promote Chatham-Kent—Leamington to potential investors.
In addition to his political work, Gelinas has been involved in many volunteered positions including a board member on the Windsor Emancipation Day Committee, a member of the CCRetirees Canadian Salaried Retirees of FCA Canada, a Junior Achievement instructor, a coach for several different youth sports teams as well as a senior player with Windsor Essex County Senior Sports Organization.
Green Party of Canada candidate – Mark Vercouteren
Mark Vercouteren is proud to run for the third time in his hometown of Chatham-Kent as the Green Party candidate for the Chatham-Kent—Leamington riding.
Chatham-Kent-Leamington Green Party Candidate Mark Vercouteren (Photo courtesy
Mark Vercouteren)
Vercouteren has also run three times for the Green Party of Ontario.
Vercouteren has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Applied Math and in Physics from the University of Waterloo.
He has several years of experience working for several farmers including at his parent's fruit stand and greenhouse business. One of Vercouteren's main focuses is on promoting local food. He also believes big picture thinking, sustainability, and supporting local businesses are key for a good economy, and environment.
People’s Party of Canada candidate – Liz Vallee
Liz Vallee was born and raised in Chatham-Kent, is married with a 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter and is honoured to be representing the PPC as the Candidate in Chatham-Kent—Leamington.
Chatham-Kent–Leamington PPC Candidate Liz Valle (Photo courtesy Rick Walker)
Vallee is a personal trainer and has also competed locally, provincially, and nationally as a powerlifter.
Vallee said in March of 2021, she became frustrated with what was happening across the community and across Canada with the government's approach to COVID-19, and the use of lockdowns, which she said she believes undermined people's basic rights and freedoms.
Vallee said she was invited to attend a PPC meeting, one thing led to another and she decided to fight from the inside, eventually being selected as the PPC candidate for Chatham-Kent-Leamington.
Vallee said the PPC is the only party she could ever align herself with and believes the party's federal leader, Maxime Bernier, is the only federal leader fighting for the freedom of Canadians.
Vallee wants to help her community regain freedom and help people across Chatham-Kent—Leamington get their lives back. Once that is complete, Vallee said the party will be able to tackle other issues facing the community.
