Decision BC: Nelson-Creston

In 2009: NDP candidate Michelle Mungall took this riding over Liberal Josh Sminek by nearly 4000 votes, 55-31%, replacing longtime NDP MLA Corky Evans.

History & Geography: Nelson-Creston first appeared on the ballot in the 1933 election, and has remained ever since, growing slightly as the Kootenays were reduced from 7 seats to 4. Today, the riding goes east to west along Highway 3 from Yahk to 40 kilometres past Salmo, and north to south from Goat Range Provincial Park to the border. It has gone to the NDP in 8 of the last 10 elections, and was held by Corky Evans for 14 years (1991-2001, 2006-2011).

Basic Stats:

• Population: 37045 (76th)

• Size: 13220 km (16th)

• Density: 2.8 people/km (71st)

Odds and Ends: When the Kootenays had 11 different seats for the first two decades of the 20th century, three of them were located in this area—Trail, Kaslo, and an individual riding for the town of Nelson.

Candidates

Liberals-Greg Garbula: A longtime general manager of Kokanee Springs Golf Resort, Garbula is the past Kootenay Lake Chamber of Commerce president, and has sat on a number of regional tourism and transportation boards. He has worked a variety of hospitality and resort jobs, and lives in Nelson.

NDP-Michelle Mungall: A former Nelson councillor, Mungall became the second youngest MLA in the legislature when she was elected at the age of 31. Mungall got her start in politics early, running in the 2001 Alberta provincial election for the NDP in St. Albert. She worked in Zambia for a number of years as National Programs Assistant for the YWCA.

Greens-Sjen Derkx: A small businessmen and cabinet maker, Derkx is also a tour guide for Canadian Sun & Mountains Travel Corp. He has worked as a regional electoral officer for Elections BC and Elections Canada.