About Our Association
We are the grassroots foundation of the Conservative Party of Canada in Kitchener Centre. We are neighbours, volunteers, and community members working together for a stronger riding.
Who We Are
The Kitchener Centre Conservative Electoral District Association (EDA) is the officially recognized local arm of the Conservative Party of Canada for the federal riding of Kitchener Centre, Ontario. We exist because democracy works best when it starts at the ground level, with real people who care about where they live.
Our membership is made up of residents from every corner of the riding: families, students, retirees, small business owners, tradespeople, and professionals. What unites us is a shared belief that our community deserves accountable, results-driven representation and sound public policy that puts people first.
Whether you have been involved in politics for decades or are just beginning to explore how you can make a difference, you belong here. We are an open, welcoming organization that values every voice and every perspective. This is your riding association, and it is only as strong as the people who choose to participate.
What Does an Electoral District Association Do?
Electoral District Associations are the building blocks of Canadian parliamentary democracy. Every federal riding in the country has one for each registered party, and they play a critical role in how our government works. Here is what we do:
Nominate Candidates
We organize and oversee the nomination process to select the Conservative candidate who will represent our riding in federal elections. This is grassroots democracy in action: members vote, and the community decides.
Build the Local Movement
Between elections, we grow our membership, engage volunteers, and strengthen our network across the riding. A strong EDA means a strong voice for Kitchener Centre in Ottawa.
Shape Policy
Our members contribute directly to Conservative Party policy through resolutions, consultations, and national conventions. The ideas that shape Canada's future often begin right here at the local level.
Fundraise & Organize
We raise the funds needed to run effective campaigns, host community events, and maintain a year-round presence in the riding. Every dollar donated stays local and supports our mission.
What We Stand For
Our priorities reflect the issues that matter most to the people of Kitchener Centre. These are not abstract talking points. They are the real concerns we hear from our neighbours every day.
Affordability for Families and Seniors
The rising cost of living affects everyone: parents trying to put food on the table, young people saving for their first home, and seniors on fixed incomes who worry about making ends meet. We advocate for lower taxes, responsible spending, and policies that make life more affordable for all Canadians.
Safe and Compassionate Communities
Every resident of Kitchener Centre deserves to feel safe in their neighbourhood. We support expanded access to mental health services, meaningful investment in treatment and rehabilitation programs, and accountability in our justice system, because compassion and public safety must go hand in hand.
Jobs, Innovation, and Economic Growth
Kitchener Centre is a hub of innovation, from green technology and advanced manufacturing to artificial intelligence and the creative arts. We champion policies that fuel this potential, support small businesses, and ensure the talent being developed at our world-class institutions has every reason to build their careers right here in our region.
Housing Security
Finding a home you can afford should not be an impossible dream. We support cutting red tape, accelerating housing construction, and creating the conditions for both homeownership and quality rental options so that every family and individual in Kitchener Centre has a stable place to call home.
Support for Families and Children
Every child in our community deserves to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment. We are committed to strengthening the supports that families depend on and ensuring that the most vulnerable among us are never left behind.
Your Member of Parliament
Kelly DeRidder
Member of Parliament
Kitchener Centre, Ontario
Kelly DeRidder was born and raised in Kitchener Centre. She attended J.F. Carmichael and Forest Heights schools before earning her degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics and Automation from Conestoga College. Over nearly two decades, she built a career in automation and engineering project management, including roles as a project manager at Rockwell Automation and as a professor at Conestoga College.
Elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre in the 2025 federal election, Kelly brings a practical, results-driven approach to her work in Ottawa. She serves on the Science and Research committee and holds memberships in multiple parliamentary associations, including the Canada-Germany Interparliamentary Group where she serves as Vice-Chair.
Her commitment is simple: listen to the people of Kitchener Centre and then act on their behalf. Whether it is affordability, public safety, housing, or economic growth, Kelly is focused on delivering the representation this community deserves.
Our Riding
Kitchener Centre is one of the most dynamic and diverse federal ridings in Ontario. Located in the heart of Canada's Technology Triangle, it is home to a thriving innovation ecosystem, vibrant cultural communities, world-class educational institutions, and a population that takes real pride in where they live.
From the bustling downtown core and its growing tech sector to established residential neighbourhoods and new developments, our riding reflects the best of what modern Canada looks like: a community of people from every background working toward shared prosperity. It is this diversity of experience and perspective that makes Kitchener Centre such a special place to call home.
We believe that strong local representation starts with a deep understanding of this community, its strengths, its challenges, and its potential. That is why everything we do as an EDA is grounded in the priorities of the people who live and work here.
Be Part of Something That Matters
Change does not happen on its own. It takes people willing to show up. Whether you want to volunteer your time, attend a local event, contribute to a campaign, or simply stay informed about what is happening in your riding, there is a place for you here.
Joining your local EDA is one of the most direct ways you can shape the future of your community and your country. Every membership, every conversation, and every hour of volunteer work adds up. Together, we are building something bigger than any one person. It is a movement rooted in our shared values and our collective commitment to a better Kitchener Centre.