Perth - Wellington

• Irma DeVries
• Gary Schellenberger (Incumbent)
• John Cowling
• Sandra Gardiner
• Julian Ichim
• Kerry McManus

Irma DeVries

Party: Christian Heritage Party of Canada

Year of Birth: 1959

Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta

Profession: Businesswoman

Marital Status: Married

Name of Spouse: John

Children: Four adult children

Career Background: Former cake decorator and current partner in both the Joyrun Farms Seed Grain and Cereal Farm, as well as the Pinkerton Power Company.

Community Activities: Volunteers as the Coffee Break bible study leader at the Palmerston Christian Reformed Church, works with persons with disabilities at the Friendship Club and member of the CRWRC Disaster Response Team from 2004 to 2006.

Contact information:

Telephone: 519-338-3920

Toll-free: 1-866-388-3920

Fax: 519-338-3339

chppw@xplornet.com

www.chpelection.ca

Gary Schellenberger

Party: Conservative Party of Canada

Birthdate: Sept. 15, 1943

Age: 65

Birthplace: Sebringville, Ont.

Profession: Businessman

Marital Status: Married

Name of Spouse: Judy

Children: Three - Lisa, Brent and Amanda

Career Background: Owner and operator of Ralph Schellenberger & Son Decorating Ltd., a family painting and decorating business for over 40 years.

Community Activities: Spent 14 years as a volunteer with Perth East firefighters, is an elder at Avonton Presbyterian Church, sits on the board of directors of Sebringville Athletic Association and is a Shriner. Former president of the Perth Farm Safety Association.

Electoral History

Municipal: Was councillor for Downie Township for 12 years (later Perth South Township).

Federal: Ran unsuccessfully in Perth-Middlesex in 1997 and 2000; elected in May 2003 byelection. Elected in Perth-Wellington in 2004 and 2006.

Political History

Party: Former president of the Perth-Middlesex PC association.

Committee: Former member of the committees on Sport, Canadian Heritage, and Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Caucus: Member of the Conservative caucus. Former critic for Sport, Canadian Heritage, Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Contact information:

schellenberger.ca

John Cowling

Party: Green Party of Canada

Age: 43

Education: BA in political science from Carleton University, Ottawa

Profession: Customer service representative

Career Background: Works with an industrial supply company in Stratford, Ont. Has also worked in film and video production as well as in canoe and kayak manufacturing in Guelph, Ont.

Community Activities: Is or has been involved with such county and community groups as Stratford's civic beautification and environmental awareness committee, ECOPerth, Perth County Greenworks, C.A.R.E. Stratford and AIDS Action Perth.

Electoral History

Federal: Ran unsuccessfully in this riding in the 2004 and 2006 general elections.

Contact information:

ridings.greenparty.ca

Sandra Gardiner

Party: Liberal Party of Canada

Age: 36

Birthplace: Hamm, Germany

Education: Registered nurse diploma, Conestoga College

Profession: Registered nurse since 1994

Marital Status: Married

Name of Spouse: James

Children: Two - Ethan and Ashley

Career Background: Is a community case manager / RN with the South West Community Care Access Centre, based in Stratford, Ontario. Started her nursing career by providing palliative care and care for medically fragile children in home-based settings. Has worked extensively with children with developmental and physical challenges and in management roles in the home health sector.

Community Activities: Is a member of CAPE, Canadian Association of Physicians concerned about the Environment; of FarmGate5, a group that brings together people and organizations that believe in a strong agricultural sector and a prosperous food industry in Ontario; of CARE (Common Action for the Restoration of the Environment), Stratford; of RNAO (Registered Nurses Association of Ontario); and board member of Optimism Place, Perth County’s only shelter for women and their children fleeing violence.

Mailing address:

Unit 9, 155 Erie St.

Stratford, Ont.

N5A 2M6

Contact information:

Telephone: 519-273-6661

Mobile: 519-573-6610

info@sandragardiner.ca

www.sandragardiner.ca

Julian Ichim

Party: Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada

Community Activities: Leader of the activist group Stratford Action For Equality (SAFE). Has made numerous presentations at city council, focusing on the issues of social housing and programs to assist drug users.

Electoral History

Municipal: Ran unsuccessfully for Kitchener city council.

Provincial: Ran unsuccessfully as an Independent in Kitchener-Waterloo in 2003.

Federal: Ran unsuccessfully in Kitchener-Waterloo in 2006.

Contact information:

www.mlpc.ca

Kerry McManus

Party: New Democratic Party of Canada

Birthplace: Stratford, Ont.

Education: BA in French and math from the University of Guelph and a B.Ed. from the University of Western Ontario. Currently working toward a master of education with a diploma in environment and sustainability at York University.

Profession: Teacher

Career Background: Taught high school and worked for non-profit organizations in Montreal. Currently a teacher-librarian at Stratford Central Secondary School.

Community Activities: Plays piano at local churches. Has volunteered and contributed to local food drives, Kiwanis Christmas basket drives, dragon boat festivals and river cleanups. Has co-ordinated Fastbreak — a fundraiser for children in Kenya — as well as the Stratford social justice fair, Hand 2 Hand and Not-so-Scroogy Christmas parties. Co-founder and chair of Common Action for the Restoration of the Environment Stratford.

Mailing address:

192 Ontario St.

Stratford, Ont.

N5A 3H4

Contact information:

Telephone: 519-271-2747

KerryMcManus@NDP.ca

kerrymcmanus.blogspot.com

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2008 Results