The Sarnia-Lambton New Democratic Party (NDP) has nominated Lo-Anne Chan as its candidate for the next federal election.
Chan, a local entrepreneur, said she was first approached about the idea while running in Sarnia's municipal election in 2022.
"They contacted me again this summer and, after some thinking and reflecting, I decided to go ahead with the vetting process in early fall," Chan said.
Chan said she'll be focused on interacting with the community in the new year, so people get to know her.
"Technically, the election could be called any time up until 2025, but the NDP just wanted to be prepared and have some candidates ready in all the ridings so we wouldn't be rushing," she said.
Chan graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, minoring in Psychology and a certificate in French.
She moved to Sarnia about 10 years ago with her husband, and decided to stay here to raise their children.
"I currently own a food business where I sell kimchi and chili sauce online, with partnerships with Great Lakes Refill Co. and other local businesses. I also do a lot of volunteer work. I am on the board at Sarnia-Lambton Children's Aid Society, Rebound and Community Legal Assistance Sarnia," she said.
Chan is trained to give child car seat safety demonstrations, and she also volunteers as a breastfeeding buddy with the North Lambton Community Health Centre.
The existing Sarnia-Lambton electoral district will see its boundary and name change in April 2024.
The new riding will be known as Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong.
Bkejwanong is the Indigenous name for the territory that makes up Walpole Island First Nation.
The riding will include all of Lambton County's 11 member municipalities, and Walpole Island, Aamjiwnaang and Kettle and Stony Point First Nations.
Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu has confirmed with Sarnia News Today she will be seeking a fourth term.
The Sarnia-Lambton Federal Liberal Association has yet to announce its candidate.
In September 2021, Gladu was elected to a third term capturing 24,835 votes.
New Democrat Adam Kilner placed second on the ballot with 11,268 votes, and Liberal Lois Nantais placed third with 10,264 votes.