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Penticton May 11 - 2,290 views
UPDATE 9:55 p.m.
After two previous attempts at a spot in Parliament, the third time appears to have been the charm for a Penticton city councillor.
Helena Konanz is the Conservative Party of Canada projected winner for the Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding.
Konanz, who was defeated in the 2019 and 2021 elections, succeeded in beating near challenger Liberal Gloria Morgan, and third place follower NDP Linda Sankey on Monday.
"It's been a long stretch and I'm really excited and so honoured," said Konanz.
She was closely contested by Liberal Gloria Morgan.
"I’ll be watching closely, and I hope everyone in this riding is watching closely, and I hope that we all will be holding her to the promises that she made to this riding," Morgan said, going on to then thank her volunteers and family.
NDP candidate Linda Sankey finished a distant third. The riding, before the boundaries had been redistributed, had been an NDP stronghold for many years, held by MP Richard Cannings who retired ahead of this election.
Sankey was sad about her loss, but optimistic about the future.
"I gotta say that this whole process has been really heartwarming, getting a chance, and the privilege, to hear from voters and to hear what's on their mind, and to know that people felt so intensely moved to ensure that [Conservative leader] Pierre Poilievre's government didn't get their hands on Canada's majority," she said.
As for Konanz, she said at an acceptance speech Monday night in Penticton that "the work begins tomorrow."
The Conservative Party will not form a government. It is yet to be seen whether the Liberal Party will form a majority or minority government, but it is clear Mark Carney will remain as Prime Minister.
Up to the minute local results from this and other ridings can be found here.
ORIGINAL 4:30 p.m.
The Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding is up in the air as polls approach closing today.
Voter turnout has reportedly been steady.
Whether this riding will remain an NDP holdout or turn Conservative or Liberal remains to be seen.
Castanet will share updates throughout the evening in this story as soon as results are available.
Polls close in B.C. at 7 p.m., the final polls to close in Canada.
The riding, left vacant by retiring NDP MP Richard Cannings, was historically orange in a sea of blue.
New riding boundaries this year include more of the historically blue Similkameen Valley.
Read in-depth interviews with the local candidates by clicking on their names below (Helena Konanz, Conservative, declined Castanet's request for an interview):
- Barry DeWar (People's Party of Canada)
- Helena Konanz (Conservative)
- Philip Mansfield (Green Party)
- Gloria Morgan (Liberal Party)
- Linda Sankey (NDP)
Polls open at 7 a.m. and run until 7 p..m. today, Monday April 28. Find out where your polling station is by checking your voting card or searching by postal code online here.
To vote, you can show a driver’s licence or any other government-issued photo identification. There are other options, as well.
Turnout was strong in the advance polls. Elections Canada said 7.3 million Canadians cast ballots over the Easter long weekend.
In 2021, voter turnout was just over 62 per cent nationwide.
Castanet will have live election night coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. We will also be updating the results locally and across the country.
