Her decision to seek the New Democratic Party nomination for this year’s provincial election was a simple one for Lindsay Wilson.
A lifelong resident of Oxford County, Wilson said she was committed to making an already “incredible place” an “even better place to live.”
“Oxford county is a place I care about very much. I grew up here – my grandparents (and) my great-grandparents grew up here – and I’m raising my family here, so this community matters a lot to me and I think there is an opportunity for this to be an even better place to live,” she said.
“This is an incredible place to be, but I know it can be better.”
Wilson’s commitment to the Oxford County community is reflected through an organization she recently helped co-found, the Municipal School Campaign Oxford County, which seeks to encourage more women to enter politics.
“I think there’s an important role for women to play in politics, so I’m also taking my own advice and stepping into politics to make a positive change in my community,” said Wilson, who lives in Ingersoll with her husband and two young children.
“I think we’ve lost faith in the integrity of some of our politicians, so it’s important for me to be someone that our community can be proud to represent them and I’ll make sure I do that,” she said.
Wilson said she felt “really honoured” when she was selected as the NDP candidate for the Oxford riding.
Since then, she said, she’s received text messages, phone calls and Facebook comments congratulating and encouraging her.
“That support early on I don’t take lightly, and I will continue to earn everyone’s support, but I think I just feel really humbled that people are feeling that I am someone who can represent them. I’m just really grateful for that.”
Wilson is an economic development professional, as well as a board member for the Southwestern Ontario Tourism Corporation and a former board member with the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce.
Because of these experiences, she said supporting local businesses is a priority for her.
“I have worked with hundreds of small businesses over my career, and certainly small businesses are a large group of people in our community that has really stepped up during the (COVID-19) pandemic and is a group of people that deserve our attention as we move into recovery.”
Another area of focus for her is families and their needs, she said.
“People are really looking for someone who is going to make choices that matter to their family and I don’t take that lightly. I have a family here too, so I know I can do that.”
Apart from the broader NDP platform, Wilson said she would remain accessible to Oxford’s constituents and help bring their concerns to the Ontario legislature.
“I am someone who will advocate on their behalf and escalate their concerns to the legislature because I know – as someone in a rural community – it hasn’t always felt like my voice is heard at Queen’s Park. So I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to be someone that people feel like will fight for them but also (be) approachable in the community,” she said.
In a press release from the Oxford riding association, Wilson pointed to the NDP’s commitment to “safer and smaller classrooms, better health care, dignified long-term care and making it easier for people in our community to afford a home.”
“As we work through what post-pandemic looks like, I look forward to being there for our community,” she said.
The provincial election is slated for Thursday, June 2.