B.C. election 2017: Victoria Swan Lake riding

In 2013, NDP incumbent Rob Fleming won re-election by a better-than 2-to-1 margin (54 per cent to 23 per cent) and like nearby Victoria-Beacon Hill, the Green Party candidate finished second, winning 23.2 per cent.

In 2009: Fleming won this riding over Liberal candidate Jesse McClinton by more than 7,000 votes, 61-27 per cent. The Greens have made Victoria Swan Lake one of their targeted ridings in this election, although they have a significant gap to make up to beat Fleming.

History & Geography: Created in 1991 when Victoria was broken up from a two-member district into two smaller seats, Victoria-Swan Lake consists of Victoria north of Bay street, and Saanich west of Shellbourne and south of McKenzie Street east of Highway 17, at which point Highway 1 becomes the dividing line. The riding has elected an NDP candidate in five of its six elections, with heavy support for the party in Fernwood.

Candidates

Liberals – Stacey Piercey: CEO of Stuff2Digital Inc, a digital media consulting company. A transgender candidate and LGBTQ advocate.

NDP – Rob Fleming: The NDP’s education critic, Fleming was first elected in 2005 after serving on Victoria city council for six years. He worked for a communications consulting business, and was president of UVic’s student union.

Greens – Chris Maxwell: A cancer researcher at BC Children’s Hospital. Should Maxwell win, he says he plans to move to Victoria and live in the riding.

The Vancouver Island Party – David Costigane: The Vancouver Island Party is a ‘single issue’ party dedicated to the secession of Vancouver Island from B.C., to become a separate province within Confederation. They are running four candidates.

2017 Stats: Victoria-Swan Lake

Population (2014): 51,569 (64th)
Population Deviation from Average: -2.9 per cent
Area: 18 sq km (72nd)
Pop Density: 2,864.9 (16th)
Average Age: 40.4 years (48th)
English as Second Language: 16.45 per cent (43rd)

Top 3 Second Languages:
Chinese, n.o.s. – 1.74 per cent
Cantonese – 1.32 per cent
German – 1.21 per cent