B.C. election 2017: North Vancouver-Seymour

In 2013: BC Liberal Incumbent Jane Thornthwaite won this riding 50 per cent to 32 per cent.

In 2009: Thornthwaite won this seat handily in her first attempt, defeating NDP candidate Maureen Norton by over 7,000 votes, 59 per cent to 27 per cent.

History & Geography: Created in 1966, North Vancouver-Seymour consists of most of the District of North Vancouver, save for the Capilano Highlands and the area around Michael and Brooksbank Parks. It has gone to the BC Liberals or the Social Credit party in every election but 1972, when NDP candidate Colin Gableman won with just 32.9 per cent of the vote. The Liberal Party generally does well everywhere, but especially in the Deep Cove area.

Candidates

BC Liberals – Jane Thornthwaite: Parliamentary Secretary for Child Mental Health and Anti-Bullying. Elected for the first time in 2009, Thornwaite was a member of the North Vancouver School Board for two terms. She was also owner of a nutrition consulting firm.

NDP – Michael Charrois: An actor, drama teacher and three-time federal NDP candidate, Charrois played the character who said, “They went that’a way!” in Clint Eastwood’s 1992 Oscar-winning film Unforgiven.

Greens – Joshua Johnson: A recent high-school graduate, Johnson works as a Tramway Operator at Grouse Mountain. In 2015-16 he serves as a House of Commons page.

Libertarian Party – Clayton Welwood: 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: North Vancouver-Seymour

Population (2014): 58,120 (37th)
Population Deviation from Average: 9.4 per cent
Area: 388 sq km (43rd)
Pop Density: 149.8 (44th)
Average Age: 42.5 years (33rd)
English as Second Language: 21.53 per cent (38th)

Top 3 Second Languages:
Persian (Farsi) – 2.71 per cent
German – 2.01 per cent
Korean – 1.78 per cent