The Huron Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with United Way Perth-Huron, hosted a successful Election Connections event on Wednesday evening at the Clinton Town Hall Auditorium.
As part of its role in connecting community leaders and fostering civic dialogue, the Chamber worked with United Way to create a new kind of election event — one focused on conversation rather than confrontation. Instead of a traditional debate, voters and candidates sat together in small, moderated groups to discuss key federal election topics, with candidates rotating between tables throughout the evening.
This format encouraged respectful, meaningful exchanges, allowing participants to share their perspectives and hear directly from candidates in a more personal setting. Feedback from both voters and candidates was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the event for creating space for genuine dialogue and understanding at a time when political conversations can often become polarized.
“As a Chamber, our role is to bring people together to have real conversations about the issues that matter to our communities,” said Colin Carmichael, Executive Director of the Huron Chamber of Commerce. “It was encouraging to see so many voters and candidates engaging respectfully and thoughtfully with one another.”
The success of the evening underscored the importance of partnership in building stronger, more connected communities. The Chamber and United Way worked closely together to ensure the event provided a welcoming environment where all voices could be heard.
Special thanks go to One Point Association of Realtors for their generous financial support, which helped make the event possible.
