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NDP candidate Richard Cannings will be representing Penticton in Ottawa after winning the first federal election held in the new riding of South Okanagan - West Kootenay., Liberal candidate Connie Denesiuk congratulates NDP candidate Richard Cannings, who was elected member of Parliament for the new riding of South Okanagan-West Kootenay in the 2015 federal election. Photographer: Steve Arstad

ELECTION 2015: UPDATE: NDP’s Cannings wins in South Okanagan-West Kootenay

Oct 20, 2015 00:10:41

PENTICTON – Like his campaign slogan said, “It’s Cannings time.”

The NDP's Richard Cannings, 61, is heading to Ottawa after winning in the new riding of South Okanagan-West Kootenay.

Cannings admitted early in the race he expected it to be a tight battle between himself and Conservative candidate Marshall Neufeld, noting many people were looking for a change.

That seems to have been the case as Cannings prevailed in a riding made up of former NDP and Conservative strongholds.

Liberal candidate Connie Denesiuk stopped by to congratulate Cannings shortly after he was declared the winner, nearly two and a half hours after the polls closed.

The biologist, who spent 17 years at the University of British Columbia, moved back to the Okanagan in 1995 and ran a consulting company.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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