Facebook · September 29, 2026
Stronger international relationships mean new opportunities for Canada’s Innovation Capital, Kitchener Centre. Proud to see our work with Angola continue to grow.
Your MP at Work
Kelly DeRidder on Jobs, innovation and local business
Kitchener Centre is known as Canada's Innovation Capital, and Kelly DeRidder is working to keep that talent and technology growing right here at home. She has toured local companies such as Ivis Inc., SmartTrace Software Development and SkyWatch Space Applications. She also visited Communitech, joined the Waterloo Region Innovation Corridor Summit, and took part in the Nigerians in the Region of Waterloo Tech Showcase. Kelly also hosted a Tech Townhall to talk about keeping innovation Canadian and protecting intellectual property.
Kelly has also spoken up for local jobs and trade. She held a CUSMA roundtable with local businesses and was joined by MPs Randy Hoback and Shuv Majumdar to hear how Canada-U.S. trade affects the community. She has said that Canadian companies should be part of the supply chain and that procurement should focus on Canadian innovation.
Her weekly business features shine a light on local favourites like 271 West Restaurant, Charcoal Steak House, The Guitar Corner, Metro Restaurant, Markatoo Fresh Produce, Mom's Bread & Pie Co. and Mac Repair Man. She also congratulated Rapid Precision Machining and Gearing on 50 years in business. She has supported career and skills programs such as NIROW's Uncover Your Spark workshop and the YouthForce 2026 graduation. Browse the posts, videos and speeches below.
173 posts, videos and speeches.
Facebook · September 24, 2026
Congrats to Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region SASC Waterloo Region YWCA Cambridge Jess Dixon and so many others on their advocacy for SHE Builds. It’s great to see $2 million in provincial funding announced for this new program supporting women and gender-diverse surviv… Read more
ors of gender-based violence in Waterloo Region. Designed with survivors in mind, SHE Builds will help women explore new futures and find work in the skilled trades.
Facebook · September 17, 2026
Congratulations to the YouthForce 2026 graduates! It was inspiring to celebrate the hard work, growth and accomplishments of this year’s graduates. Wishing each of you the very best as you take your next steps and continue building your future.
Facebook · September 15, 2026
Kitchener Centre is Canada’s innovation capital. Right here in Kitchener, companies are building dual-use technologies for civilian and defence applications, while others are already providing innovative products and services to the federal government. The talent and technology… Read more
are here. Now we need to make sure procurement is focused on Canadian innovation.
Facebook · September 14, 2026
A great afternoon with NIROW at their Uncover Your Spark Career Workshop. It was inspiring to see people building confidence, exploring their strengths and thinking about what comes next. Creating opportunities for people to find their path and reach their goals matters.
Facebook · September 10, 2026
Our arts and culture community here in Kitchener continues to bring people together and make our communities stronger. Conservatives want to support Canada’s arts and culture sector, helping it grow and ensuring Canadian talent has the opportunity to thrive.
Facebook · August 30, 2026
Great to tour a local STEM camp and see young people getting hands-on experience with science, technology, engineering and math. Kitchener Centre is home to incredible talent, and investing in the next generation of innovators starts right here in our community.
Facebook · August 28, 2026
Great to tour Ivis Inc. and see firsthand the work being done by Canadian businesses. Meeting with local employers and seeing their operations up close is a great reminder of the people, innovation and hard work driving our economy forward.
Facebook · August 27, 2026
Canada needs a trade strategy that delivers results for Canadian workers, businesses, and families. Here’s my statement on the current trade situation and what needs to happen next.
Facebook · August 27, 2026
Local Business Highlight: 271 West Restaurant 🍽️ We stopped by 271 West Restaurant with @PierrePoilievre and had the chance to meet Zee, the owner, and hear about his experience running a local business in Kitchener. Local businesses are the backbone of our community, and we’r… Read more
e proud to support the people who work hard to keep Kitchener thriving. 📍60 Charles St West. Kitchener
Facebook · August 25, 2026
Great to visit Communitech with Pierre Poilievre and hear directly from our tech & innovation community. Kitchener-Waterloo is Canada’s innovation capital, home to world-class talent and businesses. We need to create the conditions for them to grow, innovate & succeed at home.
Facebook · August 24, 2026
Great discussion at our CUSMA roundtable with local businesses and stakeholders. Thank you to MPs Randy Hoback and Shuv Majumdar for joining us and hearing directly from our community about the future of Canada-U.S. trade and how we can protect Canadian jobs and businesses.
Facebook · August 21, 2026
This week’s Women’s Highlight meets our Tech Highlight! We’re celebrating a local woman-led startup using innovation to rethink women’s health screening. It’s exciting to see women leading the way in technology and developing solutions that could make a real difference for wome… Read more
n’s health.
Facebook · August 20, 2026
Local Business Feature: Charcoal Steak House! This true Kitchener institution has been a longstanding part of our community, recently celebrating an incredible 70 years in business. Congratulations to the entire team on this amazing milestone and thank you for all you’ve contri… Read more
buted to our community over the years! 📍 2980 King St E, Kitchener
Facebook · August 20, 2026
A great day at the NigeriansIntheRegionofWaterloo Tech Showcase! It was inspiring to see the innovation, talent, and big ideas coming out of our community. Kitchener Centre is Canada’s Innovation Capital and home to incredible people building the future, and it was a privilege … Read more
to see it firsthand.
Facebook · August 13, 2026
This week’s Business Spotlight is The Guitar Corner! A true Kitchener institution, it’s been around so long that locals use it as a landmark. Even better, the owners’ daughter grew up in the store, making it a family business through and through.
Facebook · August 8, 2026
As the new Shadow Minister for Women and Gender Equality, I want to shine a light on the remarkable strengths, resilience, and brilliance of women across Canada. Women are trailblazers, formidable leaders who push boundaries, open doors, and redefine what’s possible. Today, I’m… Read more
proud to spotlight one of those extraordinary women, a fierce force in science who has changed the world from right here in our own backyard: Dr. Donna Strickland. Dr. Strickland is a Nobel Prize winning physicist from the University of Waterloo, celebrated globally for her groundbreaking work in laser physics. Her research on chirped pulse amplification revolutionized high‑intensity lasers and paved the way for innovations used in everything from eye surgery to industrial manufacturing. She is the third woman in history to win the Nobel Prize in Physics; a testament to her brilliance, perseverance, and impact. Her achievements remind us that when women lead, innovate, and break barriers, the world moves forward. And Canada is stronger for it.
Facebook · August 6, 2026
☕🍰Stopped by Holly’s Neighbourhood Café & Bar and it absolutely lived up to the hype! Amazing coffee, delicious food, and desserts that are worth saving room for. If you haven’t checked it out yet, be sure to stop by at 27 Roy St., Kitchener. You’ll be glad you did! ❤️
Facebook · August 5, 2026
Great conversations at our Tech Townhall! Thank you to everyone who came out, shared your questions, and joined the discussion about how we keep our innovation Canadian, how to protect our IP and how to build globally competitive compaines, headquartered here in Canada.
Facebook · August 3, 2026
Looking for your next thrift find? Visit Retail Therapy at 1668 King St E, Kitchener! Every purchase helps support survivors of domestic violence in our community. Shop local, find something unique, and support a great cause. https://www.facebook.com/share/1DYLT8SrTs/
Facebook · July 30, 2026
🍽️This week’s Small Business Feature is Metro Restaurant! kwmetro1961 A local favourite serving our community with great food and friendly service. Thank you to the owners and staff for all you do to make Kitchener Centre a great place to live, work, and visit. 📍164 & 168 Vi… Read more
ctoria Street North. Kitchener
Facebook · July 27, 2026
Great to visit SmartTrace Software Development, a Kitchener Centre based company developing advanced heat trace monitoring and control technology across Canada and the United States.💻 Local innovators like SmartTrace showcase the talent and technology being built right here in … Read more
our community.
Facebook · July 23, 2026
🚀This week’s Local Business Feature is SkyWatch Space Applications! Right here in Kitchener Centre, they're using cutting-edge space technology to make Earth observation data more accessible around the world. It's exciting to see local innovation making a global impact. Thank … Read more
you for everything you do to help put Kitchener Centre on the map!
Facebook · July 20, 2026
Reminder! Join us for our CUSMA Roundtable to discuss the future of trade, tariffs, and what they mean for our local economy. We'd love to have you be part of the conversation - RSVP by emailing [email protected].
Help Kelly keep working for Kitchener Centre
Kelly's work in Ottawa is backed by volunteers and supporters here at home. A monthly donation of any size keeps the local team going, and political contributions earn a generous federal tax credit.