Valerie Bradford
Canadian politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Valerie Bradford is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Kitchener South—Hespeler in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2021 Canadian federal election.[1] She is a member of the Liberal Party. In the 2025 Canadian federal election, she was unseated by Conservative candidate Matt Strauss.[2]
Valerie Bradford | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Kitchener South—Hespeler | |
| In office September 20, 2021 – March 23, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Marwan Tabbara |
| Succeeded by | Matt Strauss |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Valerie Bradford July 22, 1953 |
| Party | Liberal |
| Children | 3, including Brad |
| Alma mater | Humber College |
| Occupation | Politician |
Education
Bradford received a Diploma in Travel and Tourism from Humber College before completing a certification in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo and completing the Ontario Management Development, Supervisory Studies program at Mohawk College.[3]
Background
Bradford began her career as a volunteer producer and on-air personality for TV Hamilton, Cable 14. She then worked as financial and small business advisor at CIBC until 2005.[3]
Prior to her election, Bradford was an economic development professional. While serving as a Business Development Officer for the City of Kitchener from 2005 until 2020, Bradford was also the Chair of the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin from 2016 to 2020.[3]
Federal politics
Succeeding Marwan Tabbara, who did not seek re-election, Bradford was elected in 2021 representing the riding of Kitchener South-Hespeler.
44th Parliament
Bradford sat on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Standing Committee on Science and Research, and the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Science and Research.[4]
Bradford was also the Director of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association as well as the member of numerous parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups.[4]
Bradford emphasized disability support, affordability and the labour crisis as key areas of focus and concern for her constituency.[5]
Bradford jointly seconded Bill C-224, the National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act, designed to raise awareness of cancers linked to firefighting with the goal of improving access to prevention and treatment for firefighters.[6]
Bradford also jointly seconded motion M-44, Permanent Residency for Temporary Foreign Workers aimed at creating a comprehensive plan to expand the economic immigration stream to allow more workers of all skill levels to meet the criteria for permanent residency in Canada. With amendments, the motion was agreed to in May 2022.[7]
In the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, she endorsed Mark Carney.[8]
Personal life
Bradford grew up on a dairy farm in Dunnville, Ontario.[9] In 1971, she was a finalist at the Ontario Dairy Princess competition.[10]
Bradford raised three children as a single mother. Her children are Allison, Ian, and Toronto city councillor Brad Bradford.[11]
Electoral record
| 2025 Canadian federal election: Kitchener South—Hespeler | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | Matt Strauss | 28,973 | 47.9 | +12.41 | ||||
| Liberal | Valerie Bradford | 27,945 | 46.2 | +8.80 | ||||
| New Democratic | Lorne Bruce | 1,823 | 3.0 | –13.27 | ||||
| Green | Ethan Russell | 1,208 | 2.0 | –1.44 | ||||
| People's | Randall Williams | 386 | 0.6 | –6.11 | ||||
| United | Kathleen Dueck | 96 | 0.2 | N/A | ||||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 60,431 | 99.4 | +0.3 | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 360 | 0.6 | -0.3 | |||||
| Turnout | 60,791 | 70.4 | +8.4 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 86,338 | |||||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.81 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[12][13] | ||||||||
| 2021 Canadian federal election: Kitchener South—Hespeler | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Valerie Bradford | 18,596 | 37.5 | -2.7 | $72,079.16 | |||
| Conservative | Tyler Calver | 17,649 | 35.5 | +2.0 | $90,043.50 | |||
| New Democratic | Suresh Arangath | 8,079 | 16.3 | +3.0 | $10,706.94 | |||
| People's | Melissa Baumgaetner | 3,351 | 6.7 | +4.8 | $4.497.35 | |||
| Green | Gabe Rose | 1,710 | 3.4 | -7.5 | $530.30 | |||
| Independent | C.A. Morrison | 119 | 0.2 | N/A | $0.00 | |||
| Rhinoceros | Stephen Davis | 93 | 0.2 | N/A | $0.00 | |||
| Marxist–Leninist | Elaine Baetz | 57 | 0.1 | ±0.0 | $0.00 | |||
| Total valid votes | 49,654 | 99.1 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 474 | 0.9 | ||||||
| Turnout | 50,128 | 62.0 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 80,885 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -2.4 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[14] | ||||||||