Q3 2025 (July–September) at a glance
76
posts & videos
14
House of Commons speeches
0
EDA events
225
photos
Focused on:Community events and local organizations Jobs, innovation and local business Advocacy for Kitchener Centre in the House of Commons Affordability and cost of living Constituent help and casework
This summer, Kelly DeRidder, MP for Kitchener Centre, spent her time at home meeting neighbours, visiting local groups and listening. As Parliament returned in September, she took those conversations to Ottawa. Here is a look at the quarter, drawn from 76 posts and videos and 14 House of Commons speeches.
Listening at Home
Kelly says she spent 10 weeks at home connecting with 149 community events, organizations and local businesses. She also met 56 people at her constituency office. She hosted an Open House at the new office in August and a Community Town Hall on September 11, where residents could share their priorities for Ottawa.
Kelly also met with leaders from all levels of government, including Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and local and regional councillors, to talk about the economy, safe streets and affordability. She joined a Youth Mental Health Panel and brought what young people told her back to Ottawa. On her Your Voice Matters tour, she met local seniors alongside Anna Roberts, Shadow Minister for Seniors.
“As Parliament returns to session, I’m bringing your voices with me.”
From Kelly’s Facebook post
“If you didn’t get a chance to connect this summer, my door is always open.”
From Kelly’s Facebook post
Celebrating Our Community
Kelly joined many local celebrations. On Canada Day, she was part of a ceremony that welcomed 45 new citizens. She also took part in the Cherry Festival in Cherry Park, Bluesfest, the Hmong Canada Day event at the Breslau Community Centre, the Eritrean Festival and the Far East Asian Night Market. She thanked the volunteers and organizers, including the Downtown BIA, who make these events happen.
She also cheered on the first ProSmashers Badminton Tournament, SOCA's charity sports day for KidsAbility and the IMPACT 25 theatre festival launch. In September, she attended the Fallen Firefighter Memorial to thank firefighters and honour their families.
Supporting Local Care and Housing
Kelly visited groups that help neighbours in need. She toured Thresholds Homes and Supports on Sheldon Avenue, met Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region about affordable housing, and visited the Humane Society's Kitchener location. She also attended the AGMs of Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region and Ray of Hope.
She met KW Habilitation CEO Ann Bilodeau and said she looks forward to welcoming the Intentional Community Consortium to Parliament Hill in October 2025 to talk about affordable housing for people with diverse abilities. She also joined Independent Living Waterloo Region's summer picnic and the Thrift in the Park event supporting the Domestic Violence Victims Alliance.
Jobs, Innovation and Local Business
Kelly met with local innovators and learning institutions. She visited The Accelerator Centre, where CEO Ruth Casselman and COO Tabatha Laverty spoke about keeping top talent in the region and engaging more university co-op students. She also joined talks at Communitech on artificial intelligence and how Ottawa can better support local tech founders, and visited the University of Waterloo. She also spoke with Conestoga College Students Inc. leaders about student employment, immigration and affordability.
For young workers, Kelly visited Epic & Onside Camps, a Canada Summer Jobs recipient, and offered to share the list of approved Kitchener Centre employers. She also highlighted STEM Camp Kitchener and local businesses such as Arnold Hearing Centres and Olena Chorna Fine Arts.
In the House of Commons
On September 22, Kelly introduced her private member's bill, Bill C-240, the Offender Rehabilitation Act. It would let courts prescribe education, skills training and treatment programs during custody and ask parole boards to consider rehabilitation progress. It would also treat large-scale fentanyl trafficking as an aggravating factor in sentencing. Conservative MP Todd Doherty seconded the bill.
Kelly also brought Kitchener's tech community into her questions in Ottawa. She asked how spending can help new technology reach the market, and how research funding can better support local innovation hubs like Kitchener.
“Our justice system must do more than punish. It must also heal.”
From Kelly’s House of Commons speech
Follow along with the Kitchener Centre team to see what Kelly is working on next. Volunteer, donate or stop by to share your ideas.
