West Nova

West Nova occupies the southwestern corner of Nova Scotia, encompassing Yarmouth County, Digby County, and the western portion of Annapolis County. Major communities include Yarmouth, Digby, Meteghan, Annapolis Royal, Barrington, and the Acadian villages along St. Marys Bay and the Municipality of Clare. The riding had a population of approximately 72,000 in the 2021 census.

Candidates

Chris d’Entremont (Conservative) was the incumbent, first elected in 2019. Born in Yarmouth in 1969, d’Entremont graduated from Loyalist College with a diploma in radio broadcasting. Before entering politics, he worked as a radio announcer at CJLS-FM, as an electronics salesperson for TriStar Industries, at Camille d’Eon Boatbuilders, and as a development officer for the South West Shore Development Authority. He was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 2003 as the Progressive Conservative MLA for Argyle-Barrington, serving four terms and holding cabinet portfolios including Health Minister and Minister of Community Services.

Alxys Chamberlain (Liberal) was born in Kingston, in the Annapolis Valley, and held a Bachelor of Social Work from Dalhousie University. She began her career with the EDGE program supporting youth entering the workforce, and in 2018 joined the Government of Nova Scotia as Executive Assistant to the Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage and later the Minister of Gaelic Affairs. She was active in the community as a Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer and served as President of the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival.

Cheryl Burbidge (NDP) was a licensed practical nurse of 35 years who worked in the Emergency Department at Valley Regional Hospital. She was a community leader who led 4-H groups for 15 years and served as President of the Nova Scotia 4-H Leaders’ Council and held a seat on the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.

Scott Spidle (PPC) ran for the People’s Party of Canada.

About the Riding

West Nova has been described as a microcosm of rural Canada because it encompasses fishing, farming, tourism, small business, and a significant English-French linguistic divide. The Acadian communities of Clare and Argyle have a majority French-speaking population whose roots trace back to the mid-1700s; the Municipality of Clare (population approximately 7,700 in 2021) is one of the largest francophone communities outside Quebec in Atlantic Canada. About 10.5 percent of the riding’s population identifies as Indigenous, and there are several Mi’kmaw communities including Bear River First Nation and Acadia First Nation.

The lobster fishery is the economic engine of the South Shore and Yarmouth County, with the ports of Yarmouth, Clark’s Harbour, and Digby serving as major fishing centres. Digby is known internationally for its scallop fleet. Tourism is also vital: the Cat ferry service between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor, Maine—re-introduced in 2016 with provincial subsidies—provides a direct link to the American market, and communities like Annapolis Royal and Digby attract visitors for their historic sites and natural beauty.

CFB Greenwood, located in the Annapolis Valley portion of the riding, is the largest employer in the region and home to the Royal Canadian Air Force’s long-range patrol and search-and-rescue operations. Military families and veterans constitute a significant part of the local population.

In 2021, the moderate livelihood lobster fishery dispute affected the riding directly, as tensions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishers played out in Digby and Yarmouth counties. Healthcare access was another major concern, with Yarmouth Regional Hospital facing staffing challenges. Affordable housing, rural broadband, and support for the agricultural sector were also important issues. The riding’s aging population and youth out-migration pose long-term demographic challenges.