PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA- If you want to check out the competition for your vote this election, you’ll have three chances coming up over the next two weeks.
The chambers of commerce for Gravenhurst, Huntsville, and Lake of Bays are hosting the candidates in the running for the riding over the next few days at multiple all-candidates meetings.
The first is coming up this week on Thursday at Huntsville’s Algonquin Theatre, starting at 6:00 p.m. and running until 9:00 p.m.
The confirmed candidates, according to the Huntsville/Lake of Bays chamber’s executive director Kelly Haywood, are the Conservative’s Scott Aitchison, Trisha Cowie for the Liberals, Tom Young of the NDP, and Gord Miller from the Green Party.
Michelle Smith of the People’s Party has not confirmed as of this report.
All five candidates are expected to be present at the next event, which is scheduled for Tuesday at the Gravenhurst Opera House. The forum is being held by the Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce and the Lakelands Association of Realtors.
The organizers are asking for members of the public to submit questions, which will be reviewed by a committee. They need to be submitted prior to Wednesday of this week.
“Our goal is to find out what really matters to local residents and take those questions to the candidates,” said Sandy Lockhart, executive director of the Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce, in a news release about the event.
“We want this to be about the people of the riding and their concerns.”
Questions can be submitted prior to September 25 to [email protected]
The event will run between 6:00 and 8:30 pm. The doors to the Opera House open at 5:30 and the public is invited to stay and chat with candidates until 9 pm.
The event is being sponsored by The Moose 99.5 FM, Hunter’s Bay Radio, Country 102, Muskoka 411, Metroland Media, Muskoka Post and Your TV.
The third event in the local area will be at the Dwight Community Centre on Wednesday of next week.
All candidates except Smith have confirmed their attendance at the event, which will start with a meet and greet at 6:00 p.m. and a forum from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
All questions for the Huntsville/Lake of Bays events can be sent to [email protected].