Decision BC: Nanaimo-North Cowichan

In 2009: Incumbent NDP MLA Doug Routley defeated Liberal Rob Hutchins by over 4000 votes, 54-36%.

History & Geography: Created in 2009 to accommodate population growth from Duncan to Nanaimo, the riding spans from southern Nanaimo at 5th Street to Herd Road in North Cowichan. It also includes a number of northern Gulf Islands, including Gabriola and Valdes. In the last election, south Nanaimo and Ladysmith supported the NDP in large numbers, while more rural areas tended to be support the Liberals.

Basic Stats:

• Population: 52910 (50th)

• Size: 2720.4 km (26th)

• Density: 19.4 people/km (60th)

Did you know?: Centre of a giant immigration boom from Europe after World War Two, this riding has more people whose mother tongue is Croatian or Italian than any other.

Candidates

Liberals-Amanda Jacobson: A mortgage broker, Jacobson has attended the University of Alberta and UBC. She has worked with law firms and as a bankruptcy trustee.

NDP-Doug Routley: The critic for citizens’ services and open government, Routley was first elected in 2005, defeating longtime Liberal and Socred Graham Bruce in Cowichan-Ladysmith. He worked as a logger, sawmill worker, and owner of a bicycle manufacturer chain before entering politics.

Conservatives-John Sherry: A concrete manufacturer, Sherry lives in Chemanius and grew up in Duncan. Sherry has worked in Prince George and Calgary. He is an executive with Expocrete, and formerly built a real estate investment firm with his brother.

Greens-Mayo McDonough: A communication consultant, McDonough is former executive director of BC WorkInfoNet and the Better Business Bureau. She has worked in marketing, and lives in Ladysmith. A miner’s daughter, McDonough has degrees from Guelph and McMaster.

Independent-Murray McNab: An engineer, McNab ran for a Nanaimo council seat in 2011, but lost.

Independent-Anna Paddon