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That’s something the candidate herself did in past campaigns, but not any longer.

“I used to campaign door to door (by myself), but I don’t do that anymore. As a single female going up there (to doors), I did not feel safe,” she said. “The male candidates may not feel quite as threatened.

“Some of us (female candidates) have very strict rules. We will not do it by ourselves. If there are no volunteers signed up (to help), we will not go.”

London police were called, Dyck said, adding she was told there were several people at the home when her volunteer was struck.

A spokesperson for London police confirmed police are investigating the incident.

“The investigation is ongoing, but it isn’t being treated as an assault investigation,” Const. Sandasha Bough said. “Right now it appears as though the injury was unintentional.”

There was swift condemnation of the act by fellow politicians. Peter Fragiskatos, the Liberal candidate in the last Parliament who is running again, called the incident “unacceptable.” On Twitter, former MPP Deb Matthews called it a “horrible” act.

“(It’s) something that should never, ever happen,” Matthews wrote in response to a tweet from Dyck. “You are so right to remind canvassers to stick together, and NEVER go into a home alone.”

Dyck says the incident has reinforced that perspective and will change how her team canvasses neighbourhoods.

“We’ll go door to door in pairs,” she said. “It’ll be less about hitting as many doors as possible and more about the safety of the volunteers and candidate.”