Youthful candidates vie for seats on Thunder Bay city council

Three young candidates in the Thunder Bay election hope voters consider their passion, and not their lack of political experience.

Two business owners, both in their early 30s, are among the under 35-set running for office.

"I don't know what other opportunity I'd have to knock on my neighbour's houses and say 'hidey-ho good neighbour!'" said Shelby Ch'ng, 32, who is running in the Northwood Ward.

"The best thing I could do is go door-knocking, activate social media as much as I can and be involved," Ch'ng said. "Thunder Bay is worth staying for, and that we can come together and have great ideas and move things forward." 

'A lot more life to look forward to'

Logan Ollivier, 31, sees his age as an advantage.

"When you are younger, you have a lot more life to look forward to, so you have to plan for that," the candidate in the McIntyre Ward said.

"And a lot of what I think and the way I want to plan is to make sure that my kids, when they're my age, have all sorts of opportunities." 

Austin Haner, 19, said sometimes his age makes it difficult for people to take him seriously, at least until he starts a conversation.

'I want to make a difference'

"Once people have talked to you and they know you ... personally, then I feel like you break some barriers and get people to support," said the Lakehead University student. 

"I'm not doing this for fun. I'm doing this because I care about the city and I want to make a difference," Haner said, adding he hopes his involvement increases voter turnout among younger residents.

Haner is facing Geoff Abthorpe and incumbent Linda Rydholm in the election race in the Neebing Ward.

Ollivier's opponents in McIntyre Ward are incumbent Trevor Giertuga, Mike Komar and Wesley Ramage.

Ch'ng's Northwood Ward opponents are Frank Armiento, incumbent Mark Bentz and Jim Mauro.