Spotlight on Quebec ridings: Sherbrooke

Last time around, the voters in Sherbrooke put their faith in a newcomer whose winsurprised even the most savvy political pundits. While the riding's voters haven'tbeen loyal to a particular party, they've keptMPs in office for multiple terms since the 1970s.

• Canada Votes 2015
• Spotlight on ridings in Quebec
• Elections Canada voter information:Sherbrooke

This is the former riding of Jean Charest, who represented Sherbrooke for the Progressive Conservativesfor 14 years. After a terrible electoral defeat for the PCsin 1993, Charest, one ofonly two elected partymembers, became the PC's interim leader and, eventually, official leader.

He resigned in 1998 to mount a successful leadershipbid for the Quebec Liberal Party and later became premier of Quebec.

After Charest'sdeparture from federal politics, the riding was snatched up by theBlocQubcois.SergeCardinwas first elected in a byelectionin 1998 by a slim, 220-vote margin. He would stay in office for five terms before the NDP'sOrange Wave claimed Sherbrooke.

The candidate who unseated the sitting Bloc incumbent was on no one's radar:19-year-old university student Pierre-Luc Dusseault became the youngest MP ever elected to Canada's parliament.

High-profile contenders

Dusseault is running for re-election in the riding, but he's facing some stiff competition.

The Conservative Partynominated high-profile candidateMarc Dauphina decoratedmilitary surgeonwho served several tours overseas and waschief physician for the armed forces at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieubefore his retirement in 2013.

Dauphin wrote a book about his experiences in the multinational hospital in Afghanistanwhich became the basis for a TV series,and he is well known for his role as amedia spokesman for the Canadian Forces.

The Liberals are also putting their faith in a recognizablename in the riding. Tom Allen was a municipal councillor for 16 years and has worked for three decades asa sports director, first atChamplain College and then at Bishop's University.

Bloc Qubcois candidateCaroline Bouchardis a former journalist who worked in communications for Alcan in Paris.

• See a larger version of the riding map here

Riding History

• Established in1867, the riding has been represented byLiberal, Bloc, Progressive Conservative and NDP MPs.
• The Bloc Qubcois held the riding for more than a decade before being ousted by the NDP in 2011.

Riding snapshot

Population: 104,040(2011 Census)

Mother tongue: French (90 per cent),English (2.7per cent),non-official languages (7.3 per cent;largest linguistic groups are Farsi,Arabic andSpanish)

Average household income: $70,448(2011 National Household Survey)

Results last election

NDP 22,344
Bloc Qubcois 18,703
Liberals 4,953
Conservative 4,865
Green 890
Rhinoceros 224

Candidates 2015

• Caroline Bouchard, Bloc Qubcois
• Marc Dauphin, Conservative Party of Canada
• Sophie Malouin, Green Party of Canada
• Benoit Huberdeau, Independent
• Thomas ''Tom'' Allen, Liberal Party of Canada
• Pierre-Luc Dusseault, New Democratic Party
• Hubert Richard, Rhinoceros Party

See other key ridings