Several all-candidates meetings have been organized for federal election candidates running in the two local ridings.
The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, together with the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board and the Fraser Valley Indo-Canadian Business Association, will host two such meetings, one for each of the two local federal ridings.
The meeting for the new Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon riding will be held on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Creekside Centre at Christian Life Community Church, 35131 Straiton Rd. in Abbotsford.
The Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon riding includes areas in Abbotsford north of Maclure and Bateman Roads, along with Mission and several Fraser Canyon communities.
The meeting for the Abbotsford riding, which includes most of the rest of Abbotsford, will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, adjacent to Abbotsford city hall.
“Candidates will be questioned by a panel representing businesses in the local area. In addition, the audience will have an opportunity to provide questions for the panel to pose to the candidates,” said chamber president Josh Bach in a news release. “This is a wonderful opportunity to see the candidates in person on a level playing field and to evaluate their responses.”
Prior to the meetings, the chamber will be sending the candidates a set of pertinent questions. The questions and the candidates’ responses will be posted on the chamber website at abbotsfordchamber.com later in September.
Those running to represent the Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon riding have also been invited to an all-candidates meeting hosted by Mission Community Services Society. The event is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Clarke Theatre. To submit questions for the night, email rick.rake@missioncommunityservices.com.
