We have received an updated candidate participation list from the organizers of “Grimsby Votes” for the Mayoral and Ward Councillor debates being held at the Grimsby Legion on October 5, 7 and 8.

Mayoral Debate – Monday, October 5 @ 7PM

  • CHARROIS, Veronica – Confirmed
  • DUONG, Simon – Confirmed Verbally, Later Made Participation Conditional – Not Participating
  • JORDAN, Jeff – Confirmed
  • SEABORN, Michelle – Declined

Of the four mayoral candidates, Veronica Charrois and Jeff Jordan are confirmed to participate and Michelle Seaborn declined, while Simon Duong initially confirmed before later making his participation conditional and ultimately not participating.

Ward 3 Debate – Wednesday, October 7 @ 7PM

  • BARADZIEJ, Jacob – Confirmed
  • DAY, Ryan – Confirmed Then Withdrew
  • DUNSTALL, John – Confirmed
  • JOHNSTON, Joanne – Confirmed
  • KORSTANJE, Jennifer – Confirmed
  • LUPTON, Amy – No Response
  • POLOWICK, Jonathan – Confirmed
  • WEAVER, Shane – Confirmed

Wards 1, 2, 4 Debates – Thursday, October 8 @ 7PM

Ward 1

  • BODNAR, George – Declined
  • RITCHIE, Kevin – No Response
  • SMEENK, Margot – Confirmed

Ward 2

  • HOWE, Don – Confirmed
  • PURKISS, Ben – Confirmed
  • SCOTT, David – Confirmed
  • VARDY, Lianne – Confirmed

Ward 4

  • DIFLAVIO, Nick – Confirmed
  • FERTICH, Wayne – Confirmed Then Withdrew
  • FREAKE, Reg – Declined

Moderator

All three debate nights will be moderated by Anthony Scandinavo, a public-sector finance executive and Grimsby resident.

Location

All debates will be held at the Grimsby Legion on Clarke Street (click for map) and will run from 7:00 PM to approximately 8:30 PM.

The Mayoral Debate on October 5th will be held upstairs, with seating for approximately 190 people. The Ward Councillor debates will be held downstairs, with seating for approximately 140.

Debate Format Change

In response to candidate feedback, organizers made several changes to the debate format.

Candidates will answer the same questions under the same time limits; however, participating candidates will receive the questions four (4) days in advance. Candidate-to-candidate questions have also been eliminated.

Opening and closing statements, audience questions as time permits, and a rapid-fire YES/NO round remain part of the format.

Grimsby Votes

The debates are being organized by “Grimsby Votes,” described by the organizers as a “Blue Ribbon” group of Grimsby residents:

  • Jim Bowman, Executive at John Deere
  • Delight Davoli, CPA
  • Rob Hattin, Chair CME & CEO Automation Sector
  • Jim Howden, Banker & CPA

Closing Thoughts

It is encouraging to see that 12 of Grimsby’s 18 Ward Councillor candidates have confirmed their participation in these debates, including every candidate in Ward 2 and six of eight in Ward 3.

Conversely, it is disappointing that only two of the four mayoral candidates will be participating, particularly after Simon Duong initially confirmed. Duong has said on social media that leadership means “staying connected to the people you serve” and pledged to be “accessible, accountable.”

Having all four candidates participate would have given voters the opportunity to hear directly from each mayoral candidate before making their choice.