Larry Vellinga: CK Election & Sports Interview

Below are the Chatham-Kent Election and Sports interview responses for Ward 6, Chatham council candidate Larry Vellinga. Remember to vote October 22.

Name: Larry Vellinga

Hometown and Ward: Chatham – Ward 6

What’s your sports/recreation background?

I’m a supporting parent. My daughter plays travel fast pitch softball. Her teams have finished with gold, silver and bronze medals in multiple Provincial Championships and finished fifth for Canada overall in the Nationals. What many parents miss with travel sports is the opportunity for kids to have fun and learn the life lesson of relationship building and friendships. Given the opportunity to be nurtured, these relationships could last a lifetime. Everyone loves to win but I believe winning is overemphasized by some parents and coaches.

What are your thoughts, or what value do you place in sports and recreation for the citizens of Chatham-Kent overall, and/or when showcasing Chatham-Kent to newcomers?

I’m a huge fan of sports tourism. We fail to realize the impact potential tournaments can make on local economies. Recently we attended a fastpitch tournament in Maumee, Ohio. There were 83 teams spread over 32 diamonds. With each team paying for lodging, groceries, restaurants and shopping, I would estimate each team leaving behind $6K-$10K. That’s $500K – $800K injected into the local economy in just 3 days. Imagine how our local small businesses would thrive with that kind of capital infusion. Chasing the dream of large manufacturing is just that, a dream. It’s part of our history, not our future. Our geographical area has a lot to offer. There are millions of people within a 90 minute drive. With effort, we could become the sports tourism center of Southern Ontario. And that’s just one facet of improving our local economy.

One of the hot topics leading up to the election, and over the past decade has been a new twin pad arena for Chatham-Kent. Where do you stand on this? What thoughts do you have?

I’m a supporter of a new arena. If we truly want to grow and attract new citizens to the area, we must be willing to support the recreational infrastructure necessary to suit present and future needs. Let’s face it, Memorial Arena has served the community well. With the new casino being built on the old Wheels Inn property, the Bradley Center and potentially the twin pad arena in the same area, the potential is there for that corner of Chatham to explode with activity. Business would clamor to be a part of the area. Maybe even attract a new multi level hotel. I’m sure the municipality has already investigated provincial and federal investment opportunities in a new facility.

Do you have any other ideas or plans that would impact health, wellness, sports, or recreation in Chatham-Kent, and specifically in your Ward?

We need to educate our youth on the entire package of health and wellness. Teach them to cook and eat healthy while they are young and they will carry that with them their entire lives. Continue to drive inclusion for all children to participate in sports and stress the importance of physical activity and heath. How do we ensure those from less fortunate households enjoy the same opportunities for participation. Youth would be engaged in healthy exercise instead of sitting in front of a television or playing a game console. Idle time would be reduced and everyone would enjoy the social benefits of being a part of the “TEAM”, “Together Everyone Achieves More”. I think that pretty much sums it up in four simple words.

Anything else you’d like to tell our readers and voters?

When the community thinks about who they should vote for in the upcoming election, they need to take the promises made by the candidates with a grain of salt. One question they do need to ask is “Who is genuinely qualified to make the decisions necessary to move Chatham Kent forward.”
What candidate has achieved a Masters Degree in Business – Vellinga
What candidate has managed multi-million dollar budgets – Vellinga
What candidate has managed teams of over 300 trades people – Vellinga
What candidate has handled major projects from conception through to completion – Vellinga
What candidate understands the infrastructure of the municipality – Vellinga

• waste water treatment, potable and non potable water systems
• energy generation and how the energy grid works
• building maintenance and what it takes to heat and cool our buildings while handling waste and supplying electricity and water
• what maintenance really costs so we get honest proposals instead of inflated estimates

Running for council is not a job for me – it’s a passion. We could have moved to Windsor 26 years ago when I got hired at Ford Motor Company. We weighed the pros and cons of moving or staying. It was an easy decision. We stayed because we love this community. I want to see Chatham-Kent succeed. I want to see some jobs come here so our youth do not go off to university and never return. We need to start holding our administration and council accountable for spending and start reinvesting in new ideas to move the municipality forward. Outsiders need to look at Chatham- Kent as a destination instead of a sign on the 401.

I truly believe that sports builds character in our youth and develops them into better human beings.