Kitchener Centre

Kitchener Centre is a federal electoral district encompassing downtown Kitchener and the north-central portions of the city in southwestern Ontario's Waterloo Region. The riding is a microcosm of urban Canada, with a tech-driven economy anchored by proximity to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, a vibrant arts scene, and persistent challenges around homelessness and affordability. The 2025 election produced one of the most dramatic results in the country when Conservative Kelly DeRidder narrowly defeated incumbent Green MP Mike Morrice in an upset.

Candidates

Kelly DeRidder (Conservative) * Born and raised in Kitchener, DeRidder studied Mechanical Engineering, Robotics and Automation at Conestoga College. She spent nearly two decades in project management, including as a project manager at Rockwell Automation, before becoming a professor at Conestoga College. Her background in advanced manufacturing and technology gave her a platform to speak to the riding's innovation economy from a practical perspective.

Mike Morrice (Green Party) Morrice grew up on Montreal's West Island before moving to Ontario and earning dual degrees in business and computer electronics from Wilfrid Laurier University. Before entering politics, he founded Sustainable Waterloo Region and co-founded Green Economy Canada, organizations focused on helping businesses reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He was named EY's Ontario Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018. Elected in 2021, he was the first Green Party MP elected in Ontario and served one term before his narrow defeat in 2025.

Brian Adeba (Liberal) Adeba is a policy advisor and journalist who began his career in Kitchener in 2005 as a summer reporter. He later worked at a local think tank and served as deputy director of policy at an international organization focused on exposing corruption and holding non-democratic governments accountable. He was acclaimed as the Liberal candidate for Kitchener Centre.

Heather Zaleski (NDP) Zaleski has worked as a parliamentary assistant in the House of Commons and has experience with both Ontario NDP and federal NDP campaigns.

Wasai Rahimi (People's Party - PPC) Rahimi ran as the People's Party candidate in Kitchener Centre.

Ellen Papenburg (Animal Protection Party) Papenburg ran for the Animal Protection Party in the riding.

About the Riding

Kitchener Centre sits at the heart of one of Canada's fastest-growing technology corridors. The riding includes the downtown core, Victoria Park, and Belmont Village, and benefits from proximity to Communitech, the innovation hub that has helped launch and scale hundreds of tech companies. The ION light rail transit system, which opened in 2019, runs through the riding and has spurred significant development along its corridor.

Homelessness and the opioid crisis have been among the most visible challenges in the riding. Encampments near Victoria Street and Weber Street have drawn attention to the region's housing shortage, and as of late 2024, over 2,300 individuals in Waterloo Region were experiencing homelessness. Candidates from all parties acknowledged the issue as a top concern during the campaign.

The 2025 contest was one of the tightest in the country. Morrice had built a strong personal brand as a constituency-focused Green MP, but DeRidder's deep local roots, practical credentials in manufacturing and technology, and the broader Conservative surge across Waterloo Region combined to flip the seat by a margin of just a few hundred votes. The result ended Morrice's tenure as one of only two Green MPs in the House of Commons.