Ashfield Colborne Wawanosh (ACW) - 2026 municipal candidate questions and responses

We emailed every candidate in Huron County running in the upcoming municipal election (including those who were acclaimed).

We asked four questions.

Everyone was given the same timeframe to respond.

1. If elected, will you support your municipality declaring June to be Pride Month, in support of 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and the work of inclusion in our communities?

Candidate’s name	Role	Yes	No	Unclear	Did not answer
Evan Hickey	Mayor		X
Ben Van Egmond	Mayor	X
Lauren Rooyakkers	Deputy- Mayor	X
Bill Vanstone	Deputy- Mayor				X
Paul Bollinger	Councillor				X
Murray Curran	Councillor				X
MacKenzie Deuschle	Councillor			X
Peggy Ducharme	Councillor			X
Dave Errington	Councillor				X
Dan Hayden	Councillor	X
Gord Leamen	Councillor				X
Glen McNeil	Councillor	X
Tony McQuail	Councillor	X
Patti Wilkins	Councillor				X
Ken Zelazny	Councillor	X

2. If elected, will you support your municipality flying the Pride Flag during the month of June, showing tangible support for 2SLGBTQIA+ residents?

Candidate’s name	Role	Yes	No	Unclear	Did not answer
Evan Hickey	Mayor		X
Ben Van Egmond	Mayor	X
Lauren Rooyakkers	Deputy- Mayor	X
Bill Vanstone	Deputy- Mayor				X
Paul Bollinger	Councillor				X
Murray Curran	Councillor				X
MacKenzie Deuschle	Councillor			X
Peggy Ducharme	Councillor			X
Dave Errington	Councillor				X
Dan Hayden	Councillor			X
Gord Leamen	Councillor				X
Glen McNeil	Councillor	X
Tony McQuail	Councillor	X
Patti Wilkins	Councillor				X
Ken Zelazny	Councillor	X

3. Would you attend Huron County Pride events, including its Pride Week, year-round programming, and support its decal program and other educational events?

Candidate’s name	Role	Yes	No	Unclear	Did not answer
Evan Hickey	Mayor		X
Ben Van Egmond	Mayor	X
Lauren Rooyakkers	Deputy- Mayor	X
Bill Vanstone	Deputy- Mayor				X
Paul Bollinger	Councillor				X
Murray Curran	Councillor				X
MacKenzie Deuschle	Councillor	X
Peggy Ducharme	Councillor			X
Dave Errington	Councillor				X
Dan Hayden	Councillor	X
Gord Leamen	Councillor				X
Glen McNeil	Councillor	X
Tony McQuail	Councillor	X
Patti Wilkins	Councillor				X
Ken Zelazny	Councillor	X

4. What do you see as your responsibility, as an elected official, towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies in our communities?

BEN VAN EGMOND, Mayor candidate

What do you see as your responsibility, as an elected official, towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies in our communities?

"As an elected official, I believe my responsibility is to represent everyone in our community fairly and respectfully, regardless of who they are, who they love, or how they identify.

"A mayor and council should work to create a community where residents feel safe, respected, and able to participate fully in community life. That means listening to residents, standing against discrimination, supporting initiatives that promote inclusion, and making sure that municipal government treats people with dignity and respect.

"I also believe that inclusion is not simply about making statements or attending events. It is about how we conduct ourselves and how we interact with residents every day. If elected, I would make every effort to ensure that 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies know that they have a place at the table and that their voices matter."

EVAN HICKEY, Mayor candidate

What do you see as your responsibility, as an elected official, towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies in our communities?

"My responsibility as an elected official does not change depending on group.

I would be elected to represent all in ACW equally.  No person or group would be treated differently."

LAUREN ROOYAKKERS, Deputy-Mayor candidate

What do you see as your responsibility, as an elected official, towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies in our communities?

"I did support the Pride Flag to be flown for the Month of June in East Ferris but it was voted down. We negotiated June 1 for it to be flown.

"I support LGBTQIA+ (I do support 2S but I do not have personal experience) in my personal and professional life. I am an advocate, but the ACW flag policy is that they only fly the Canadian, Provincial and Municipal flag.

"I would support raising the Pride Flag (the flag policy needs to be changed) and yet, it depends on council as council decides."

MACKENZIE DEUSCHLE, Councillor candidate 

What do you see as your responsibility, as an elected official, towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies in our communities?

"I believe a municipal councillor should be welcoming to everyone. I always strive to offer kindness, an open mind and honesty. We all belong here, and we all deserve equal respect, to feel welcome and to have the chance to be exactly who we are."

PEGGY DUCHARME, Councillor candidate 

What do you see as your responsibility, as an elected official, towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies in our communities?

"As an ACW councillor, I plan to treat every individual with equality, dignity and respect.

"As a councillor, my job will be to represent all community members equally and ensure our local services are delivered fairly, transparently, and without discrimination."

DAN HAYDEN, Councillor candidate

What do you see as your responsibility, as an elected official, towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies in our communities?

"I see my responsibility as Municipal counsellor to do what I can to ensure all our community residents and visitors feel safe and welcome." 

GLEN McNEIL, Councillor candidate

What do you see as your responsibility, as an elected official, towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies in our communities?

"I have publicly stated that everyone is welcome, and everyone belongs in ACW."

TONY McQUAIL, Councillor candidate

What do you see as your responsibility, as an elected official, towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies in our communities?

"To speak up for and work with all people in our community and to work for better understanding and acceptance. Diversity in nature and diversity among people is a strength.

"We need to let go of fear of people who are different whether it is racism, sexism, homophobia or transphobia. I believe that a person’s sexual orientation and sexual identify are their business. When governments or institutions discriminate against people because of their sexual identity they are trying to fan the flames of fear and hatred rather than building what Quakers would call the beloved community. They use that fear and hatred to support efforts to maintain fundamentally unfair structures of social and economic inequality that benefit elites to the detriment of the rest of society.

"Scapegoating the socially marginalized is a distraction from addressing the real sources of misused power in society."

KEN ZELAZNY, Councillor candidate

What do you see as your responsibility, as an elected official, towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies in our communities?

"My responsibility is the same as it is toward every resident of ACW: to listen, represent people fairly, treat everyone with dignity and respect, and make thoughtful decisions in the best interests of our entire municipality.

"I am not running to be a Councillor for one particular group. I am running to represent the people of all of ACW.

"That means listening to different perspectives, understanding the issues, asking questions, considering the facts, and making independent, respectful, and common-sense decisions.

"I do not believe a Councillor should automatically say yes to every request or position put forward by an individual, group, or organization. Our responsibility is to listen, follow the appropriate process, consider the broader community impact, and then exercise independent judgment.

"I will always treat 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies with the same dignity, respect, and fairness I believe every resident of ACW deserves.

"That is the commitment I am making to the people of ACW."