UPDATE: 4:14 p.m.

The NDP has finally chosen a candidate to run in the May 9 provincial election against Liberal MLA Eric Foster.

Barry Dorval, an English teacher at W.L. Seaton Secondary School, was nominated at a meeting on Sunday.

Dorval defeated Harwinder Sandhu, a nurse at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, to take the nomination.

“My main concerns continue to be finding really decent employment, dealing with homelessness, education,” Dorval said the meeting. “A lot of provincial issues impact what is happening locally as well.”

A former president of the Vernon Teachers Association, Dorval also questioned Foster's priorities when dealing with local issues.

“My concern has been his ability to listen to what's happening here and reflect that back to Victoria rather than acting the other way where he's coming and representing Victoria to Vernon.”

Sandhu also took a swipe at Foster, who has won the provincial seat in two elections.

“He has failed on so many levels,” Sandhu said, a proponent of better health care and affordability for people in the Valley. “He has not done the job he should be doing.”

Sandhu questioned the timing of the recently announced MRI machine – expected to be in place at Vernon Jubilee Hospital by 2018 – saying it was made just in time for the election. 

An official at the meeting said it looked like about 80 people were present, though it's not clear exactly how many voted, nor by how much Dorval won.

The other official candidate in the riding is the Green Party’s Keli Westgate.

–with files from Dustin Godfrey

ORIGINAL: 7:50 a.m.

The New Democrats are about to enter the provincial election race in the Vernon Monashee riding.

The local NDP constituency association is holding a nominating convention Sunday at the Vernon Elks Lodge on 30th Street in the downtown. Registration opens at 1 p.m. and voting begins at 2:45 p.m.

Two people are vying for the spot including: Harwinder Sandhu, a nurse, and Barry Dorval, teacher.

Sandhu is described by the NDP as a “strong advocate for healthcare, seniors' care, public education and affordable childcare.”

Born and raised in India, Sandhu immigrated to Canada in 2001 and has lived in Vernon with her husband and two daughters since 2012.

Dorval is described by the NDP as a “dedicated English teacher at W.L. Seaton Secondary School in Vernon and an advocate for social justice and the environment.”

The former president of the Vernon Teachers Association has lived in Vernon with his wife since 1999.

Already in the race are sitting Liberal MLA Eric Foster and Green Party candidate Keli Westgate.

As well, Don Jefcoat of the Libertarian Party of B.C. has said he will run, but it is not yet known if enough elector signatures have been collected.