A St. Thomas mom is continuing to gain momentum in a national competition, thanks in large part to strong community support.
Lindsay Payne, who is competing in the 2026 Super Mom competition, says she has now spent more than a month holding onto first place in her group as public voting continues across Canada and the United States.
Payne, a Registered Veterinary Technician and Practice Manager at Imperial Road Animal Hospital in Aylmer, first shared her story with myFM earlier this spring.
Since then, she and her two sons have taken their campaign directly into the community through themed appearances at the Horton Farmers’ Market.
Each Saturday, Payne and her children have been creating balloon animals and interacting with visitors while encouraging residents to cast their votes in support of both the contest and Children’s Miracle Network, which benefits from fundraising tied to the competition.
Payne says the market experience has become about much more than just votes.
The themed weekends have quickly become a hit with families, beginning with a “balloon dog rescue” concept before shifting to pirate-themed balloon swords last weekend. This Saturday, Payne says they’ll be introducing a tropical theme featuring balloon monkeys and flower bracelets.
She adds that connecting face-to-face with the community and getting the chance to see her kids shine has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
Payne says the support she’s received from family, coworkers, friends, neighbours, and even complete strangers has been overwhelming.
The competition is currently in the Group Finals stage, with voting in the current round ending Thursday night. Only one mom from each group advances directly to the Quarterfinals, while second-place finishers move on to a Wildcard Round.
If Payne advances, voting will continue through Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals, with the overall winner expected to be announced shortly after.
To learn more and to help out Lindsay Payne on her road to being named the 2026 Super Mom Winner, click here.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
