My name is Kerry Vandenberg, and this election is unlike any my family has experienced before. My father, George Vandenberg, is running as the Liberal candidate in Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, and he believes our riding is a microcosm of the national campaign—where economic uncertainty and shifting loyalties are forcing Canadians to rethink long-standing political affiliations. For us, that transformation isn’t just political—it’s deeply personal.
I’ve spent much of my life in Conservative politics. I was a candidate in Toronto, served as Vice President of the local federal Conservative association, and led the provincial wing. But today, I’m supporting my father’s Liberal campaign—because I believe the country needs something different right now.
My father, a retired police officer and two-term city councillor, also spent years aligned with Conservative politics. We share a history shaped by service—him in law enforcement, me in the military—and we’ve always valued leadership, discipline, and pragmatism. But those values are exactly why we’ve both shifted our political stance.
Canada is at a crossroads. The challenges we’re facing—economic instability, rising global tensions, broken trust in institutions—call for thoughtful, solutions-oriented leadership. We believe Mark Carney represents that kind of leadership. His experience, steady hand, and centrist approach make him the right person for this moment.
Sarnia is feeling the weight of these decisions more than most. As a border community, we’re on the front lines of trade disruptions and global market volatility. The stakes are high here, and we need leaders focused on stability and substance over slogans.
This isn't about partisanship. It's about the future—of our community, and of Canada. And while it may be unusual for a father and son to find themselves on opposite ends of a political spectrum from where they started, we’re not alone. Canadians across the country are having the same conversations at their dinner tables—re-examining what they value, and what kind of leadership they want.
There’s a bit of historical poetry here too. The last time a father and son were politically split like this on the federal stage, it was John Turner and his father Leonard. Turner, of course, went on to become Prime Minister. It’s a reminder that these moments of change can shape more than just elections—they can shape the direction of a country.
For us, this election is about stepping forward, not looking back. And I hope our story encourages others to do the same.