Kirkfield Park

Nestled on Winnipeg’s western edge between Portage Avenue and the Assiniboine River, Kirkfield Park includes the neighbourhoods of Westwood, Woodhaven, Glendale and Kirkfield.

It is the riding in Manitoba with the oldest average age: half of the population is over the age of 46 and one in five is over 65.

Kirkfield Park is also one of the wealthiest ridings in the province, with a median income in the top 10 of all ridings and significantly above the provincial median income.

The services sector – banking, insurance, and accounting for examples – accounts for the largest number of jobs. More than 95 per cent of residents speak English at home.

 

Stats

Population: 20,400

Median age: 46.3

Immigrants: 12.3 per cent

Aboriginal population: 5.9 per cent

Living in poverty: 12.3 per cent

Median income: $29,456

 

Politics

Once considered a safe seat for the provincial Tories, the NDP upset the apple cart here in 2007 when Sharon Blady earned an upset victory.

It is likely to be one of the hardest fought contests of the 2011 election, with the NDP desperate to keep it and the Tories desperate to get it back.

Particularly for the Conservatives, any chance to defeat the NDP and form government will almost require a win here.

The riding usually has the best or close to the best turnout in the province. In 2007, almost 70 per cent of voters cast a ballot, compared to the provincial turnout of just 56.75 per cent.

 

2007 results

Sharon Blady, NDP 4,997

Chris Kozier, PC 3,862

Douglas Kaylor, LIB 1,273

Turnout: 69.21 per cent