Manitoba votes 2019: Spruce Woods riding profile

• About the riding
• Voting history
• News stories from Spruce Woods
• Meet the candidates
• More riding profiles from CBC Manitoba​​

The southwest Manitoba riding of Spruce Woods has been around since 2008, but its boundaries changed in the 2018 riding redistribution. The riding lost much of its southern territory to nearby ridings, but gained territory to its north and west.

The current version of the riding surrounds the city of Brandon, encompassing the communities of Souris, Oak Lake, Rivers, Cottonwoods, Wawanesa, Glenboro, Holland and part of Brandon itself.

The riding's population is 22,810, according to the province's 2018 riding profile (compiled from the 2016 census).

The median age of the riding is roughly on par with the overall provincial median, at 39.8 in Spruce Woods compared to 38.3 provincewide, according to the 2018 riding profile and the 2016 census. The census found the median household income in the area is $73,922.

More facts about Spruce Woods:

• Roughly four per cent of residents reported they speak German most often at home on the 2016 census, according to the 2018 riding profile, and roughly one per cent reported French.
• Roughly six per cent of residents identified as immigrants, the profile says, more than half of whom reported that their place of birth is in Europe.
• The median value of a home in the riding is $235,004, the profile says, and more than three-quarters of residents reported they own their home.

Voting history

The riding voted Progressive Conservative in both provincial elections since its creation.

• 2011 and 2016 elections: Progressive Conservative.

Spruce Woods in the news

Meet the candidates

The nominated candidates for the 2019 election are:

• Gordon Beddome (Green Party).
• Cliff Cullen (Progressive Conservative).
• Jennifer Harcus (Liberal).
• Justin Shannon (NDP).

Candidates become official when they meet criteria set out in the province's Elections Act, including providing a statement of disclosure. In Spruce Woods, Gordon Beddome (Green Party), Cliff Cullen (Progressive Conservative) and  Justin Shannon (NDP). are official.

Find more CBC Manitoba riding profiles here.

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