Shefford

Shefford was a sprawling riding in southern Quebec straddling the Montérégie and Estrie regions, encompassing a mix of small cities and agricultural countryside in the Eastern Townships. The riding included portions of the La Haute-Yamaska, Rouville, and Val-Saint-François regional county municipalities, with its principal communities being Granby, Waterloo, Valcourt, Saint-Césaire, and Roxton Pond. It was one of only four federal ridings that had been continuously represented in the House of Commons since Confederation in 1867.

Candidates

Réjean Genest (NDP) — Genest was a former meteorologist who had become a horticulturalist and editor of the online magazine Les Beaux Jardins. He entered the 2011 campaign as a first-time federal candidate.

Robert Vincent (Bloc Québécois) — The incumbent MP, Vincent was born in Granby in 1956 and had worked as a foreman and union advisor before entering politics. He was first elected in the 2004 federal election and had been re-elected in 2006 and 2008, serving three terms as the BQ's representative for Shefford.

Mélisa Leclerc (Conservative) — Leclerc carried the Conservative banner in Shefford.

Bernard Demers (Liberal) — Demers ran for the Liberals in the riding.

Patrick Daoust ran for the Green Party.

About the Riding

Granby, the riding's largest city with a population of roughly 63,000, was an industrial and commercial centre for the Eastern Townships. Manufacturing occupied a significant share of the local workforce, with textiles, clothing, metal products, and food processing among the leading sectors. The city's Granby Zoo was a major regional tourist attraction, and CEGEP de Granby Haute-Yamaska served as the area's post-secondary institution. The city had pursued aggressive economic diversification, attracting manufacturing plants with roots in western Europe and the United States.

The town of Valcourt, southeast of Granby, was the birthplace of Joseph-Armand Bombardier and the headquarters of BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products), maker of the Ski-Doo snowmobile, Sea-Doo watercraft, and Can-Am off-road vehicles. The company was one of the most significant employers in the riding, and the Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier drew visitors to the community.

Beyond these urban centres, much of the riding was rural and agricultural, with dairy farming, apple orchards around Rougemont, and maple syrup production characterizing the landscape. The rolling hills and farmland of the Eastern Townships gave the area a pastoral character. Federal issues of concern included support for manufacturing, agricultural policy, rural infrastructure, and economic development for smaller communities navigating the transition from traditional industries.