Ridings

144 Kitchener Centre

Riding Profile

This southern Ontario riding contains part of the city of Kitchener. The riding spreads east and west from the downtown core of the riding
to encompass a range of older and newer subdivisions.

It extends from the Conestoga Parkway and Highway 8 in the south to the CN Rail Line in the north and from Trussler Road and Highland Road in the west to the Grand River.

The area is known for the strength of its German heritage, with a nine per cent German population. Manufacturing is the most important industry with retail trade second. Average family income is $64,306 and unemployment is 5.9 per cent.

In 2004, a portion of the Kitchener-Waterloo riding was added in the northwest. The riding of Kitchener was created in 1966 from Waterloo North and South. In 1996, the name changed to Kitchener Centre.

Population: 109,800

Political History

KITCHENER:
1968, 1972, 1974: LIB
1979: PC
1980: LIB
1984, 1988: PC
1993: LIB
KITCHENER CENTRE
1997, 2000: LIB

In 2000, Liberal Karen Redman defeated the Alliance's Eloise Jantzi, winning a second term of office. The riding has swung between supporting the Conservatives and the Liberals. Conservative MP John Reimer won the races here in 1979, 1984 and 1988, but was defeated by Liberal Peter Lang in 1980 and Liberal John English in 1988.

Karen Redman

Party: Liberal Party of Canada
Birth Date: Jan. 8, 1953
Age: 51
Birthplace: Kitchener, Ont.

University Degree: Yes
Education: BA in English, University of Waterloo.
Profession: Freelance writer.
Career Background: Sat on a number of committees and councils including Health and Social Services, Planning and Economic Development, Family and Children's Services, Administration and Finance, Public Works and Transportation, and Social Planning Council.
Community:
Active member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian church.
Former member of Canadian Federation of University Women, Learning Disabilities Association, Cambridge Writer's Collective and the Rotary Club of Kitchener.
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Warren
Children: Abby, Laura, Joe and Jim.

Thomas Ichim

Party: Conservative Party of Canada

Richard Walsh-Bowers

Party: The New Democratic Party of Canada

University Degree: Yes
Profession: University professor
Career Background: Former clinical psychologist, primarily in child and family services at the Kitchener-Waterloo Health Centre.
Current professor of psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Served on the University-Faculty Association Employment Equity committee and was honoured as the university's Outstanding Teacher of 1999.
Community:
Active in promoting prevention of violence against women and strengthening children's social-emotional development using drama.
Active in researching and providing public education about ethics of mental health professionals and the clergy.
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Hilary
Children: Four

Karol Vesely

Party: The Green Party of Canada
Birthplace: Bratislava, former Czechoslovakia.

University Degree: Yes
Education: Studied natural healing methods in Switzerland, Austria and Germany.
Attended Karl's University of Musical Art in Prague, Czech Republic and majored in film direction.
Profession: Pilot and doctor.
Career Background: Practices holistic naturopathy in Kitchener.

Mark Corbiere

Party: Independent

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