In 2013: Liberal John Martin won this riding handily. This is a safe Liberal riding.
In 2009: Liberal John Les won this riding for the third straight time, defeating NDP candidate Mason Goulden by more than 2,000 votes, 45-32 per cent.
History & Geography: A riding named Chilliwack first appeared in 1903, spanning all of the Lower Mainland south of the Fraser River. However, it’s drastically been reduced in size over the decades, and it’s now a somewhat urban riding with relatively little farmland. It is bordered by Boundary Road in the west and the Fraser River to the north, and splitting off the western part of Sardis by Vedder Road. The riding has always gone for the Liberals and Social Credit parties, though the NDP have had support in the centre of Chilliwack and surrounding first nations reserves.
Candidates
Liberals – John Martin: Another low-profile Liberal back-bencher. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
Previously a criminology professor at the University of Fraser Valley, Martin ran for the BC Conservatives in the April 2012 Chilliwack-Hope byelection.
NDP – Tracey O’Hara: An employee in the Chillwack School District, she is VP of her CUPE local.
Greens – Wayne Froese: Self-employed web designer and supporter of Syria Refugee Settlement campaign in Chilliwack. He live at the Yarrow Eco Village, a “green” cohousing development.
Independent – Ryan McKinnon: The past director at Hope Community Children’s Center, McKinnon also ran federally as an independent in 2014. McKinnon is an advocate of child protection reform.
2017 Stats: Chilliwack
Population (2014): 49,089 (70th)
Population Deviation from Average: -7.6 per cent
Area: 135 sq km (48th)
Pop Density: 363.6 (40th)
Average Age: 42.4 years (34th)
English as Second Language: 12.34 per cent (57th)
Top 3 Second Languages:
German – 3.68 per cent
Dutch – 1.79 per cent
Spanish – 0.68 per cent
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