St. John's East

St. John's East is a federal electoral district covering the eastern half of the city of St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, along with the nearby towns of Bauline, Flatrock, Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove, and Pouch Cove. With a 2021 census population of approximately 85,040, it is one of the most densely populated ridings in the province and one of the smallest by area. The district includes the historic downtown core, Signal Hill, Memorial University of Newfoundland's main campus, and the residential neighbourhoods stretching north and east from the harbour.

Candidates

Joanne Thompson (Liberal) was born and raised on Bradbury Place in St. John's. A registered nurse by training, she graduated from Athabasca University with a Bachelor of Nursing and from the University of Fredericton with a Master of Business Administration. Thompson combined her nursing career with work in her family's jewelry business. She later served as executive director of The Gathering Place, a downtown St. John's centre providing meals, shelter, and support services to people experiencing homelessness, where she worked on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2018, she was named a Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Champion and received the Senate of Canada Medal.

Mary Shortall (NDP) was born and raised in the riding and became active in the labour movement during her first job at Air Canada. Over four decades, she rose through union leadership, culminating in her role as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, a position she held from 2013 onward. On leave from the federation during the campaign, Shortall also had extensive experience with women's organizations and social justice advocacy. She won the NDP nomination over Mansoor Pirzada, president of the Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Glenn Etchegary (Conservative) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Memorial University of Newfoundland and built a career as an executive manager, leading large operational teams in the transportation and fishing industries. He introduced technological innovations to those sectors and was involved in labour negotiations with multiple unions. Etchegary volunteered for more than 15 years with St. John's Minor Hockey and Soccer and was a key member of the fundraising committee for Easter Seals House in St. John's.

Dana Metcalfe (PPC) is a small business owner based in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's who founded Wink (Women into Networking Kindness) and spent 20 years working on community and humanitarian projects in the region.

About the Riding

St. John's East is an urban riding with a character shaped by Memorial University, the offshore oil and gas sector, a growing technology industry, and the province's public service. Memorial University, with over 19,000 students and thousands of faculty and staff, is the riding's largest institution and a major economic driver. The university's Marine Institute and Ocean Frontier Institute have established St. John's as a centre for ocean technology research.

The riding's downtown core along Water Street and Duckworth Street hosts the province's cultural institutions, restaurants, and nightlife. Signal Hill National Historic Site, overlooking the entrance to St. John's Harbour, is among the most visited heritage sites in Atlantic Canada. The technology sector saw a landmark moment in early 2021 when Verafin, a St. John's-based financial crime management software company, was acquired by Nasdaq for $2.75 billion USD.

St. John's East was the only riding in Newfoundland and Labrador without an incumbent in 2021, following the retirement of long-serving NDP MP Jack Harris. Housing affordability was a leading concern, with rents and home prices in the St. John's area rising sharply. Homelessness and the demand for social services in the downtown core were persistent issues. The riding also has a growing immigrant population and a visible LGBTQ+ community, giving it a more diverse demographic profile than other Newfoundland ridings. Fossil fuel subsidies and the transition from offshore oil dependence to a greener economy were debated among the candidates, reflecting the riding's dual identity as both an oil industry hub and a university community with strong environmental advocacy.