In 2009: Ben Stewart won this riding for the Liberals, defeating NDP candidate Tish Lakes by nearly 5000 votes, 53-29%.
History & Geography: Created for the 2001 election as Westside-Okanagan, this riding encompasses downtown Kelowna and the surrounding area, along with the adjacent municipality of Westside. It also spans northward to get the homes on the west side of Okanagan Lake. The riding has never voted for an NDP candidate, although areas in Kelowna proper have supported the NDP in the past.
Basic Stats:
Population: 57480 (22nd)
Size: 1139.8 km (32nd)
Density: 50.4 people/km (54th)
Did you know?: Centre of a giant immigration boom from Europe after World War Two, this riding has more people whose mother tongue is Croatian or Italian than any other.
Candidates
Liberals-Ben Stewart: The Minister of Citizens’ Services and Open Government, Stewart was first elected in 2009. He was the owner and manager of Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, one of the largest wineries in the Okanagan. He also served on the board of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation and many other philanthropic organizations.
NDP-Carole Gordon: An elementary school teacher, Gordon teaches Grades 4 and 5 at Bankhead Elementary in Kelowna. She is a local representative to the BCTF, and president of the North Okanagan Labour Council. She is also a director of the Central and South Okanagan United Way.
Conservatives-Brian Guillou: A businessman, Guillou works as a contractor. He operated a home renovation and painting business in Surrey for many years before moving to Kelowna in 1999.
Greens-TBA:
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