In 2013: B.C. Liberal Michelle Stillwell won election handily, 50 per cent to 37 per cent
In 2009: BC Liberal incumbent Ron Cantelon defeated NDP candidate Leanne Salter by over 3,500 votes, 51 per cent to 38 per cent.
History & Geography: Created for the 1991 election to accommodate the growing communities between Nanaimo and Comox, Parksville-Qualicum encompasses the town of Qualicum Beach, the City of Parksville, and the District of Lantzville, just north of Nanaimo. The riding went to the NDP in 1991, but has gone to the BC Liberals in every election since. While the NDP have had support in the city centres of Parksville and Qualicum, the Liberals are stronger in the suburbs and less populated areas.
Candidates
BC Liberals – Michelle Stillwell (incumbent): Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation. A Paralympian, Stillwell is the only Canadian female athlete to be a Paralympic gold medallist in two separate summer sports. At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (her fourth) she won two more gold medals. Before entering politics, she was a motivational speaker and advocate for persons with disabilities and children with special needs.
NDP – Sue Powell: A Parksville city councillor since 2004 and child protection worker, Powell has been popular with Parksville residents, being the top vote-getter the past two municipal elections.
Greens – Glenn Sollitt: The Green Party candidate for Courtenay-Alberni in the 2015 federal election and owner of Glacier View Seafood distribution, Sollitt has worked in commercial fishing and has a mechanical engineering degree from UBC.
BC Refed – Terry Hand: The BC Refederation Party advocates direct democracy and reform of Canada’s federalist system. They are running three candidates in 2017.
2017 Stats: Parksville-Qualicum
Population (2014): 54,089 (58th)
Population Deviation from Average: 1.8 per cent
Area: 978 sq km (35th)
Pop Density: 55.3 (53rd)
Average Age: 56.4 years (1st)
English as Second Language: 10.60 per cent (70th)
Top 3 Second Languages:
German – 2.16 per cent
Dutch – 1.03 per cent
Panjabi (Punjabi) – 0.49 per cent
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