In 2009: Liberal Jane Thornwaite won this seat handily in her first attempt, defeating NDP candidate Maureen Norton by over 7000 votes, 59-27%.
History & Geography: Created in 1966, North Vancouver-Seymour consists of most of the District of North Vancouver, save for the Capilano Highlands and the area around Michael and Brooksbank Parks. It has gone to the Liberals or the Social Credit party in every election but 1972, when NDP candidate Colin Gableman won with just 32.9% of the vote. The Liberal party generally does well everywhere, but especially in the Deep Cove area.
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Basic Stats:
Population: 53405 (46th)
Size: 360 km (39th)
Density: 148.3 people/km (47th)
Odds and Ends: Median income for everyone 15 and older was $33,532 in 2005, the largest in the province.
Candidates
Liberals-Jane Thornthwaite: Elected for the first time in 2009, Thornwaite was a member of the North Vancouver School Board for two terms. She was also owner of a nutrition consulting firm. During the 2010 Olympics, Thornwaite was arrested for drunk driving, and was subsequently fined $500 and charged one month of community service.
NDP-Jim Hanson: A lawyer, Hanson is a partner at Surrey’s largest law firm, Hanson Wirsig Matheos. He has law degrees from UBC and Oxford University. Hanson was nominated by the NDP in 2011, but has never ran for public office before. He represented the passengers who were on the Queen of the North when it sank.
Conservatives-Brian Wilson: A small businessman, Wilson is the owner of the Integra Tire Auto Centre in North Vancouver. A member of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Wilson has been the riding president for the federal Conservatives in North Vancouver.
Greens-Daniel Smith: An electrician, Smith has an electrical trade certificate from Thompson Rivers University. He has worked with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and has been a Big Brother.
IND-Jamie Webbe: A sustainable development consultant, Webbe is currently an advisor to the United Nations, and has worked at the World Bank. She is currently an advisor to the Board of the Vancouver Aquarium. She returned to North Vancouver after a decade of working abroad, and quickly became disillusioned with provincial politics – which spurred her desire to run. She says her policies align fairly closely with the Green Party (outside of climate change regulation), but wanted to present herself as an individual to the electorate.
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