Several Thornhill riding candidates ready to contest election
Federal Election 2015

YorkRegion.com
Aug. 13, 2015
Marney Beck  

Several federal candidates are in place to contest the new riding of Thornhill, stretching into Markham as far east as Bayview Avenue, and west into Vaughan with Hwy. 400 as the boundary.

NDP candidate Lorne Cherry

Lorne Cherry is a successful entrepreneur, consultant and teacher. Under leader Tom Mulcair, he wants to use that experience to work for the priorities of Thornhill voters.

A champion of small business, Cherry is a two-time Canadian Profit 100 recipient. Over the past 30 years, he has helped local, national and international clients grow their small businesses and successfully compete in an ever-changing and complex marketplace.

He gives back to the community through social entrepreneurship. As executive director of New to Canada Resources, he organized the 2014 New to Canada Show, bringing the public and private sectors together with community resources to support newcomers to Canada.

He advocates for a fairer immigration system that prioritizes family reunification — a tradition that has strengthened Canada and he believes is worth defending.

As a presenter with Scientists in School, Cherry presents physics workshops get students excited about science, while emphasizing the need to conserve our natural resources. A defender of the Oak Ridges Moraine, he moderated a provincial all-party debate on preserving the ecologically sensitive landform.

A proud resident of Thornhill and father of five, Cherry has lived in the 905 region for most of his life. He holds a bachelor degree from U. of T. in political science, a masters of management and an executive MBA, as well as professional marketing designations.

The Lorne Cherry campaign office is at 18 Millcreek Cr., Thornhill, and phone is 647-687-0905.

Conservative candidate Peter Kent

Peter Kent was first elected to the House of Commons to represent Thornhill in 2008 and was a cabinet minister for Foreign Affairs, responsible for the Americas.

In January 2011, Prime Minister Harper appointed Kent as environment minister and he served in that capacity until July of 2013. In October 2013 hewas elected chair of the House Standing Committee on National Defence.

Prior to becoming an MP, Kent was a broadcast journalist, having spent more than 40 years working as a writer, reporter, producer, anchor and senior executive in Canada, the United States and around the world.

As a journalist, he covered stories that shaped the 20th century, including the Vietnam and Cambodian conflicts and recovery, decades of conflict in the Middle East, the Ethiopian famine, the transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe, the overthrow of Idi Amin, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War.

He earned a number of awards over his career, including the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Award. He is also a member of the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame.

Kent actively supports a number of charitable organizations. He has served as a mentor with the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council and was on the Toronto cabinet of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. He remains involved with the Royal Conservatory of Music, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, and the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Peter and his wife have a daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter.

His campaign office is located at 1118 Centre St., Unit 22, Thornhill, for info go to info@votepeterkent.ca

To date no Liberal or Green candidates have been announced.