In 2013: NDP incumbent Nicholas Simons defeated B.C. Liberal Patrick Muncaster by more than 4,000 votes (54 per cent to 33 per cent).
In 2009: Simons defeated B.C. Liberal Dawn Miller by nearly 4,500 votes, 58 per cent to 34 per cent.
History & Geography: Originally known as Mackenzie, Powell River-Sunshine Coast spans the lower coast of British Columbia from Gibsons to Port Neville. The main towns are Powell River and Sechelt, but many other small islands and inland first nations communities are in the large riding. The riding of former B.C. Liberal leader Gordon Wilson, this riding has supported Social Credit, NDP and B.C. Liberal candidates in the past. The area between Sechelt and Powell River tends to have the most NDP support.
Candidates
BC Liberals – Matthew Wilson: The son of former Liberal leader Gordon Wilson who representing this riding from 1991 to 2001. He works with B.C. First Nations on economic development opportunities in B.C.’s resource sector.
NDP – Nicholas Simons: The critic for Coastal Economic Development and CLBC, Simons was first elected in 2005. Before entering politics, he was the executive director of health and social development for the Sechelt Nation. He has lectured in Criminology at Simon Fraser University, and is an accomplished cellist, performing on many professional albums.
Greens – Kim Darwin: An independent mortgage broker, Darwin is also President of the Sechelt and District Chamber of Commerce. In 2014 she was elected Provincial Council Secretary for the BC Green Party.
BC Cascadia Party – Reuben Richards: The Cascadia party was founded in 2016. Its platform calls for a renegotiation of the constitution, calling the Provincial and Federal governments ‘corrupt.’ The Cascadia Party is running two candidates in 2017.
2017 Stats: Powell River-Sunshine Coast
Population (2014): 50,039 (68th)
Population Deviation from Average: -5.8 per cent
Area: 21,007 sq km (14th)
Pop Density: 2.4 (74th)
Average Age: 51.2 years (4th)
English as Second Language: 10.31 per cent (73rd)
Top 3 Second Languages:
German – 1.96 per cent
Dutch – 0.85 per cent
Italian – 0.81 per cent
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