As part of 90.5 myFM’s 2026 Election Coverage, myFM reached out to candidates in South Huron, Bluewater, Lambton Shores and Lucan-Biddulph to hear why they believe residents should vote for them on October 26th.
Here’s what Chris Vanderydt, running for Ward 1 in Lambton Shores had to say.
TRANSCRIBED AUDIO:
“Hi, I’m Chris Vanderydt and I’m putting my name forward for Ward 1 Council on Lambton Shores.
Why I’m running. Honestly, it comes down to timing and opportunity. I’ve spent the last 30 years as a paramedic and for 25 of those years as an advanced care paramedic, which means I’ve spent a career walking into people’s worst moments and trying to make things better. Somewhere along the way, I realized that instinct to show up and help doesn’t have to stop at the ambulance doors.
Trisha and I have built a life here over the last five years, ever since we found a property we fell in love with and decided to make Grand Bend home. This community has given us a lot and I think it’s time I gave something back in a different way.
My experience? I’ll be straightforward. I haven’t held political office before, but I don’t think that means I’m walking in without relevant experience. I’ve spent years teaching both at Fanshawe College and walking through London Health Sciences Centre based hospital program, which means I’ve had to explain complicated things clearly, work with all kinds of people, and make sure decisions actually hold up under scrutiny. On top of that, three decades of emergency response teaches you how to stay calm when things get complicated, gather information fast, and make a call you can stand behind. I think that’s exactly the mindset council decisions need.
The biggest issue facing our community. If you talk to residents around here, one thing comes up again and again. The push and pull between being a tourist destination and still feeling like a place people actually live. Parking is probably the clearest example. It affects whether residents can get around their own neighborhoods and whether visitors can still access businesses that depend on them. I’m also hearing a lot about safety on our streets, especially with the rise of e-scooters and about whether the municipality is spending money as careful as residents expect. None of these issues exist in isolation.
They’re all really about the same question. How do we grow as a community without losing what makes it worth living in? Why residents should vote for me. I’m not going to pretend I have every answer figured out. I don’t think anyone generally does before they’re sitting at that table. What I can offer is a track record of staying level-headed, listening carefully and following through because that’s what 30 years of paramedicine has demanded of me.
If elected, my focus will be on making sure municipal spending is transparent. Finding parking solutions that actually work for both residents and tourists and taking residents concerns about street safety seriously, including working with fellow Councillors on a responsible path forward for things like golf carts where communities want them. I’d be honoured to earn your vote on October 26 and bring that same steady approach to Ward 1. Thank you.”
