District Profiles

WAVERLEY-FALL RIVER-BEAVERBANK (51)

Candidates:

Current MLA: Gary B. Hines (PC)

Riding Profile: This riding was created by the boundary redistribution process in 2003. It absorbed some of the communities formerly represented by the old Bedford-Fall River riding (28 per cent), as well as Waverley, Fall River, Windsor Junction, Beaverbank and Middle Beaverbank east of Sackville. It includes 47 per cent of the former Sackville-Beaverbank riding and six per cent of Dartmouth East (mainly the Portobello subdivision).

This area of Halifax County is largely rural, with plenty of lakes and trees, although most people work in the city or at the Halifax International Airport.

These outlying areas of Halifax are some of the fastest growing communities in the province. The demand for more services, particularly schools and recreation, has been the subject of recent promises by the government. This is an affluent area that is increasingly popular with young families and well-educated professionals lured by open spaces and lower taxes.

The population is 17,820 and the average income is $33,660.

Political History:

Voter Turnout: 65 per cent in 2003.