In 2009: Liberal incumbent Blair Lekstrom defeated NDP candidate Pat Shaw by over 2500 votes – which in this sparsely populated riding, led to a 63-27% victory.
History & Geography: The smaller of the two Peace River ridings, Peace River South was created in 1956. The towns of Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge and Dawson Creek make up the bulk of the population in this riding that borders Alberta. It has gone to the Social Credit, Reform, and Liberals parties, but never the NDP.
Basic Stats:
Population: 26325 (83rd)
Size: 30340 km (11th)
Density: 0.9 people/km (79th)
Odds and Ends: In the 2006 census, home owners reported spending just 7% of their income on housing costs – the lowest number in the province.
Candidates
Liberals-Mike Bernier: The mayor of Dawson Creek, Benier works as Manager of the South Peace for Pacific Northern Gas. He was first elected as a Dawson Creek councillor in 2005 before becoming mayor in 2008. He has also worked as a professional musician and a construction worker building houses in Vancouver.
NDP-Darwin Wren: The mayor of Tumbler Ridge, Wren was previously on council for one term before his election in 2011. A counsellor with the Northern Health Authority, Wren has also worked in residential group homes in Edmonton, and a residential treatment centre in Lac La Birche. He has also worked for Canfor.
Conservatives-Kurt Peats: The former RCMP detachment head for Tumbler Ridge, Peats currently runs his own businesses providing inspections and field investigations for natural gas companies. Born in Manitoba, Peats graduated from Aldersgate College in Saskatchewan.
Independent-Tyrel Pohl: A farm equipment salesman for Prairie Coast Equipment, Pohl was born and raised in Dawson Creek.
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