Vimy

The federal riding of Vimy covers the southwestern quadrant of the city of Laval, the large island municipality wedged between Montreal and the northern suburbs. Created during the 2012 redistribution primarily from the former riding of Laval, the district takes in the neighbourhoods of Chomedey, Laval-des-Rapides, and part of Pont-Viau. Laval is the third-largest city in Quebec, and Vimy — with a population of approximately 109,000 and a relatively compact area of 32 square kilometres — is among its most densely populated sectors. The riding is one of the most ethnically diverse in the province: Chomedey, in particular, has been Laval's most multicultural neighbourhood since the 1960s, home to large Greek, Lebanese, Armenian, Haitian, Italian, Moroccan, and Algerian communities.

Candidates

Annie Koutrakis (Liberal) — A trilingual investment professional fluent in French, English, and Greek, Koutrakis worked in the financial services industry for thirty years before entering politics. She served as president and CEO of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal — the first woman to hold the position in the organization's 113-year history. First elected in 2019, she sought a second mandate in 2021.

Rachid Bandou (Bloc Quebecois) — Originally from Kabylia in northern Algeria, Bandou immigrated to Quebec in 1997. He served on the Bloc Quebecois Citizenship Commission since 2007 and was a general councillor of the Societe Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montreal. He was also president of the Amitie Quebec-Kabylie association, founded in 2009.

Rima El-Helou (Conservative) — The Conservative Party's candidate in the riding.

Vassif Aliev (NDP) — The New Democratic Party's candidate in Vimy.

Alejandro Morales-Loaiza (People's Party) — The People's Party of Canada's candidate in the riding.

About the Riding

Vimy's character is shaped by successive waves of immigration that have made it a microcosm of Quebec's evolving demography. The Greek community — estimated at roughly 40,000 across Laval — is concentrated in Chomedey, where Hellenic churches, cultural centres, and businesses line the commercial corridors. Armenian, Lebanese, and North African communities have also established deep roots, and the riding's allophone population is among the highest in the province.

The riding's urban fabric is a mix of post-war bungalows, mid-rise apartment buildings, and newer condominium developments along the major boulevards. Laval-des-Rapides, closer to the bridges linking Laval to Montreal, has a denser, more transit-oriented profile, while parts of Chomedey retain a quieter suburban feel. The riding is well served by the metro system's orange line, with stations at Montmorency and Cartier connecting residents to downtown Montreal.

Local issues in 2021 included infrastructure aging in older residential sectors, the integration of newcomers, and the adequacy of health-care services in a rapidly growing city. Koutrakis's background in finance and her deep ties to the Greek community provided a strong base in a riding where ethnic community networks play a significant role in political mobilization. The Bloc Quebecois, through Bandou's engagement with the Kabyle community, sought to broaden its appeal beyond the francophone mainstream.