Open Sources Guelph - Lloyd Longfield (September 24, 2015)

This week, Open Sources Guelph will kick its election coverage to the next level by interviewing the first of the four major party candidates in the riding of Guelph. Sandwiched between two debates here in the Royal City, we will put our guest through his paces, and get him to speak candidly about the issues without any ability to deflect to one of the other six people present, and next week, we'll do it all over again.

This Thursday, September 24, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz  and Adam A. Donaldson will talk with Liberal candidate Lloyd Longfield.

Who's Lloyd Longfield? Here's his bio from his campaign website:

Lloyd is one of six children raised in Winnipeg by Raymond and Gladys Longfield, an English teacher and registered nurse. After studying Mathematics at the University of Manitoba, Lloyd graduated from Red River College in 1980 as a Mechanical Engineering Technologist and began a 28-year career in hydraulic and pneumatic machine automation. He has also worked and travelled in every province in Canada.

In 1986 Lloyd started a successful machine automation design, service, and supply business which led to his recruitment to the Board of Directors for North and South America of a major UK manufacturer of pneumatic components and systems, and to the management of Canadian divisions of corporate multinationals in 1992 and 2003.

Lloyd’s family settled in Guelph in 1992 after falling in love with its rich heritage, compassionate community, surrounding natural beauty and vast educational opportunities. In 2008, Lloyd entered the world of community benefit organizations as President & CAO of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. Lloyd’s tenure at the Chamber was marked by a number of successful and innovative initiatives, including: recruiting ten physicians to Guelph; rebuilding Immigrant Services – Guelph Wellington; collaborating with the City of Guelph to launch Prosperity 2020, Connect Guelph Wellington, and Guelph Sustainable Solutions; establishing Innovation Guelph, and; relocating the Guelph Chamber offices to a shared workspace in downtown Guelph.

Innovation Guelph is now a stand-alone community benefit organization that has brought in $12 million of new investment to our local economy and enhances the productivity and competitiveness of both start-ups and established businesses. Lloyd recently joined Innovation Guelph full time as Mentor In Residence, working to bridge the skills gap between graduates, immigrants, underemployed or marginalized people and connecting them with opportunities at local businesses.

With Longfield in studio, we'll talk about the leadership of Justin Trudeau, the Liberal platform, and its impact on the areas of economy, environment, education, and electoral reform in the Royal City. We'll also ask Longfield about why Guelph voters, in the current spirit of change nationwide, should elect their third Liberal MP in 22 years.

Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.