B.C. election 2017: Shuswap riding

In 2013: BC Liberal Greg Kyllo held this riding for his party, 48 per cent to 29 per cent

In 2009: Longtime Liberal cabinet minister George Abbott won his fourth straight election in this riding,

History & Geography: Known as Salmon Arm from 1924-1966, Shuswap has generally centred around Shuswap Lake and the towns to the south of it. The riding includes the towns of north of Vernon on Highway 97, including Armstrong and Enderby, and the towns between Chase and Revelstoke on Highway 1, including Salmon Arm and Sicamous. The area has voted for the NDP four times in the past, but has otherwise supported centre-right parties.

Candidates

BC Liberals – Greg Kyllo: Parliamentary Secretary for the BC Jobs Plan. Previous to making the leap the Provincial politics, Kyllo was a Sicamous councillor, and president of Twin Anchors Marine Group.

NDP-Sylvia Lindgren: An education assistant who works at Salmon Arm Secondary with special needs students. Lindgren is president of CUPE Local 523.

Greens- Kevin Babcock: Works at the Canoe plywood plant. Currently studying at Thompson Rivers University finishing a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.

Libertarian – Kyle McCormack. The Libertarian party is running 30 candidates, four times as many as in 2013. They have been running candidates in B.C. since 1986, but have never come close to winning a seat.

2017 Stats: Shuswap

Population (2014): 56,352 (49th)
Population Deviation from Average: 6.1 per cent
Area: 8,610 sq km (22nd)
Pop Density: 6.5 (66th)
Average Age: 50.2 years (7th)
English as Second Language: 8.23 per cent (82nd)

Top 3 Second Languages:
German – 2.87 per cent
Dutch – 0.99 per cent
Ukrainian – 0.44 per cent