December 2025 at a glance
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posts & videos
8
House of Commons speeches
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EDA events
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Focused on:Community events and local organizations Advocacy for Kitchener Centre in the House of Commons Drug crisis Safe communities Jobs, innovation and local business
In December Kelly DeRidder, MP for Kitchener Centre was focused on Giving, Safety and Innovation in Kitchener Centre. She marked the end of the fall sitting in Ottawa and spent the holiday season with neighbours, charities and community groups. Here is a look at what she did for the riding.
Celebrating the Season Together
Kelly hosted a Christmas celebration for all the people of Kitchener Centre. She said it began as a much smaller Friendsmas tradition and has grown into something extraordinary. She thanked her staff, the Kitchener Rangers, Mission Thrift Store Kitchener, Santa Jason Weiler, Kelly's Klowns, Erick Traplin and Bandology for helping make it happen.
She also joined many cultural and faith communities. She attended the Albanian Community Association's Independence Day event and presented a Certificate of Appreciation. She joined a Filipino community Christmas celebration, the final night of the menorah lighting, and a Christmas evening hosted by the Confederation Club of Waterloo Region.
Lifting Up Local Charities and Volunteers
Throughout the holiday season, Kelly shone a light on groups that help neighbours in need. She highlighted House of Friendship, which helps more than 42,000 people each year, and the KC Rotary's annual Turkey Drive. She also featured the Ray of Hope Community Centre, Community Support Connections, the May Court Club KW and the 519 Community Collective, which prepares over 40,000 meals each year.
Kelly also shared the Waterloo Regional Police Service's Stuff-a-Cruiser toy drive, held with the Waterloo Knights of Columbus Council 5135. She recorded a thank-you to the volunteers who make Kitchener Centre a caring place to live.
Local Business, Jobs and Innovation
Kelly visited the grand opening of The Old Town Butchers on Weber Street. She also presented a certificate to Morris Car Wash for 25 years serving Kitchener. She met with industry leaders in Kitchener about technology, small business, tourism and agriculture. After visiting Reception House Waterloo Region, she called for better recognition of international credentials so skilled newcomers can get to work faster.
In Ottawa, Kelly spoke up for Kitchener's tech and research community. In the House of Commons, and at the Science and Research Committee, she pressed for a strategy to keep the ownership and benefits of Canadian research here at home.
“Kitchener Centre is Canada's innovation capital, but we do not monetize and commercialize here in Canada.”
From Kelly’s House of Commons speech
Safer Communities and Real Recovery
Kelly met with Waterloo Region Police Chief Mark Crowell to talk about public safety. She also took part in a roundtable on gender-based violence hosted by the African Women's Alliance of Waterloo Region. This fall she supported Bailey's Law, which passed unanimously in the House to strengthen protections for victims of intimate partner violence.
Kelly is also sponsoring Bill C-240, her private member's bill. It allows for court-prescribed rehabilitation while cracking down on fentanyl trafficking, and she expects it to come up for second reading next year. She continues to call for abstinence-based rehabilitation and for more treatment beds, medical detox and recovery housing. After a meeting with a local recovery organization, she said these conversations renew her determination.
Kelly's team also helped a bereaved parent who had faced a flawed CRA estate assessment for nearly a decade. They secured an audit that overturned the error and delivered a substantial return.
“Fixing broken systems isn't just about numbers; it's about fairness and justice with real life consequences.”
From Kelly’s Facebook post
“Together, we’ll keep building a stronger, safer Kitchener Centre.”
From Kelly’s Facebook video
Follow along with the Kitchener Centre team to see what Kelly is working on for the riding. Volunteer or donate to help build a stronger, safer Kitchener Centre.
