News |
April 14, 2011
Chamber to Host Federal Election Forum
Contact:
Michelle Dupont, Policy & Communications Manager
780-532-5340 ; michelle@gpchamber.com
Michelle Dupont, Policy & Communications Manager
780-532-5340 ; michelle@gpchamber.com
With a federal election less than three weeks away, the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce is inviting all candidates for the Peace River Constituency to share the details of their platforms with the voting public.
The forum will take place Monday, April 18 at the Douglas J Cardinal Performing Arts Centre located within Grande Prairie Regional College.
The evening is meant not only for constituents to learn about the views and priorities of the candidates, but also to allow them to pose questions on issues that matter to them.
Chair of the Chamber’s Board, Dave Cook says the event is an opportunity to engage the general public in the democratic process and invite them to get informed and involved.
“The Chamber is a non-partisan organization, we don’t endorse any one candidate or party over another, but we recognize the importance of community involvement when selecting our region’s Minister of Parliament.” Cook says “The person we elect as our MP will have a lot of work ahead of them, keeping apprised of the issues affecting our region, and bringing our concerns to Ottawa.”
Cook says the Chamber has a long-standing history of community engagement surrounding elections for all three levels of government. He says hosting a forum provides Chamber members, and the general public, a simple way to access information from the candidates vying to represent our region.
“It’s a good opportunity for those looking for general information on the election and its candidates,” Cook says, “but it’s also for those who have specific concerns, to gauge the candidates’ awareness and knowledge surrounding those issues.”
Following the April 12th deadline to declare candidacy, the Chamber had confirmed attendance by four out of six candidates. The Green Party’s Wayne Kamieniecki, New Democrat Jennifer Villebrun, and Conservative Incumbent Chris Warkentin have all confirmed their attendance. Liberal Corinna Ganton and Independent Russ Toews have declared, but are not able to attend the forum.
Former Chair of the Board for the Chamber of Commerce, Vince Vavrek will moderate the forum, with help from Grade 12 Social Studies students at Peace Wapiti Academy. The students’ teacher Louis Chabot says the opportunity to participate in the Chamber’s event allows his students, most of which are nearing voting age, a chance to become ‘part’ of the election process, instead of witnesses to it.
Most of the students will help with tasks like timing the candidates statements, ushering people to their seats, collecting questions from the audience, and reading those questions to the candidates; while one student, Bryce Westerson, was selected by Chabot to assist with moderating the event.
Candidates will be permitted to display their promotional materials in the foyer outside the theatre starting at 6:00pm. Doors to the theatre will open at 6:30pm with the forum to start promptly at 7:00pm.
For More Information, please Click for the Event Page.
The forum will take place Monday, April 18 at the Douglas J Cardinal Performing Arts Centre located within Grande Prairie Regional College.
The evening is meant not only for constituents to learn about the views and priorities of the candidates, but also to allow them to pose questions on issues that matter to them.
Chair of the Chamber’s Board, Dave Cook says the event is an opportunity to engage the general public in the democratic process and invite them to get informed and involved.
“The Chamber is a non-partisan organization, we don’t endorse any one candidate or party over another, but we recognize the importance of community involvement when selecting our region’s Minister of Parliament.” Cook says “The person we elect as our MP will have a lot of work ahead of them, keeping apprised of the issues affecting our region, and bringing our concerns to Ottawa.”
Cook says the Chamber has a long-standing history of community engagement surrounding elections for all three levels of government. He says hosting a forum provides Chamber members, and the general public, a simple way to access information from the candidates vying to represent our region.
“It’s a good opportunity for those looking for general information on the election and its candidates,” Cook says, “but it’s also for those who have specific concerns, to gauge the candidates’ awareness and knowledge surrounding those issues.”
Following the April 12th deadline to declare candidacy, the Chamber had confirmed attendance by four out of six candidates. The Green Party’s Wayne Kamieniecki, New Democrat Jennifer Villebrun, and Conservative Incumbent Chris Warkentin have all confirmed their attendance. Liberal Corinna Ganton and Independent Russ Toews have declared, but are not able to attend the forum.
Former Chair of the Board for the Chamber of Commerce, Vince Vavrek will moderate the forum, with help from Grade 12 Social Studies students at Peace Wapiti Academy. The students’ teacher Louis Chabot says the opportunity to participate in the Chamber’s event allows his students, most of which are nearing voting age, a chance to become ‘part’ of the election process, instead of witnesses to it.
Most of the students will help with tasks like timing the candidates statements, ushering people to their seats, collecting questions from the audience, and reading those questions to the candidates; while one student, Bryce Westerson, was selected by Chabot to assist with moderating the event.
Candidates will be permitted to display their promotional materials in the foyer outside the theatre starting at 6:00pm. Doors to the theatre will open at 6:30pm with the forum to start promptly at 7:00pm.
For More Information, please Click for the Event Page.
