Town Of Vermilion Electorate Hears From Candidates
- Sonya Lee
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
On Wednesday Oct 8, community members packed the Lakeland College Alumni Theatre for an electoral forum organized by the Vermilion & District Chamber of Commerce. The event, streamed on YouTube, gave voters a chance to hear directly from electoral candidates in a nonpartisan setting ahead of the upcoming election.
The forum followed a moderated question-and-answer format. Candidates were invited to make opening statements, respond to questions submitted by residents in advance (and during the event), and provide closing remarks. Attendees came from a range of local neighborhoods, and the online livestream allowed remote viewers to follow the discussion.
The forum still offered valuable insights into the platforms and priorities of those running.
Several pressing local and regional issues dominated the evening’s discussion:
Economic development & local business support
Infrastructure, roads, and rural connectivity
Health and social services
Taxation, affordability, and cost-of-living pressures
Governance transparency and community engagement
Candidates diverged on approaches: some pushed for more direct investment in small businesses and incentives for rural communities, while others emphasized fiscal restraint and accountability.
One candidate noted, “In order to keep young families in Vermilion, we need to invest in quality services and reliable infrastructure.” Another observed, “We can’t promise everything, but we must be transparent, listen to residents, and be accountable.”
A local attendee, said after the forum, “It’s refreshing to see people put ideas out there, not just slogans. I came in undecided; I’m leaving better informed.” Another resident, added, “I appreciated hearing the candidates respond under pressure, that tells you something about how they’ll act if elected.”
With the election looming, the forum offered essential visibility into candidates who may otherwise have limited public exposure. For many residents, face-to-face accountability and the ability to compare platforms side-by-side were the chief benefits.
The forum also reinforced the role of local chambers of commerce as neutral facilitators in civic engagement.
In the coming days, voters can expect follow-up candidate outreach through more community events, and all candidates were open to being approached when out in the community for respectful conversations. The chamber said it plans to archive the forum recording on its website and social media channels for those who missed it live.
As voters consider their choices, the impression each candidate made tonight, especially in how they handled tough, unscripted questions, may prove pivotal.