Meet the Candidates Cancelled

Over the weekend, we became aware of the potential for people from outside The North Grove community to cause significant disruption at our Meet the Candidates event. After much consideration, we are cancelling the event. This is a very difficult decision and one that we don’t take lightly.

Safety is our top priority. People of all ages see The North Grove as a safe space to gather, and we take that responsibility very seriously.  

Our Meet the Candidates event is open to people of all ages, including parents who want to attend with their children. If we can’t guarantee everyone’s safety and an atmosphere of respect, then the event cannot proceed as planned. 

We are extremely disappointed by this turn of events. Our Speak Up! Show Up! campaign has been running since 2016 and it’s the first time we’ve ever had to take a step like this because of safety concerns.  

Creating a safe and welcoming space is central to the trusting relationships at the heart of The North Grove. We are taking this precaution to protect those relationships and to honour that trust.  

It remains incredibly important to us that community members hear directly from their federal candidates on issues that affect their lives. 

We are proceeding with Speak Up! Show Up! and are sharing the top three questions we’re hearing from community members with all the candidates. Each will have an opportunity to provide a written or recorded response that will be shared with community members at one of our regular programs. 

We are determined to protect spaces where everyone feels safe, feels their voice can be heard, and can engage fully in the democratic process.