Shefford

Shefford is a federal electoral district in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec, anchored by the city of Granby and extending to include smaller communities throughout the MRC de La Haute-Yamaska and surrounding areas. With a population of roughly 110,000, the riding is overwhelmingly francophone—over 95 percent of residents speak French as a mother tongue—and has a predominantly working-class and suburban character. Granby, with a population of about 73,000, serves as the riding's economic and commercial centre.

Candidates

Andréanne Larouche (Bloc Québécois) — First elected in 2019, Larouche holds a bachelor's degree in applied politics with a specialization in communication from the Université de Sherbrooke. Before entering federal politics, she worked as a project coordinator on elder abuse awareness for the organization Justice alternative et médiation and as a political attaché for former MP Christian Ouellet and MNA Marie Bouillé. She serves as the Bloc's spokesperson on women's condition, gender equality, and seniors' issues, and has championed legislation for equitable treatment of all seniors eligible for old age pension.

Felix Dionne (Liberal) — A 47-year-old engineer and entrepreneur, Dionne is the owner of five Tim Hortons restaurants in the region. He spent about a decade as a civil servant, notably at the Department of Foreign Affairs where he worked on intellectual property issues. He was elected as a municipal councillor in Granby in 2021 and brought a business-focused approach to his federal campaign.

James Seale (Conservative) — Seale ran as the Conservative candidate, focusing on fiscal responsibility, transparent governance, and the defence of free speech. He positioned himself as an advocate for maximizing value for taxpayers.

Patrick Jasmin (NDP) — Jasmin represented the NDP in Shefford, campaigning on workers' rights, affordable housing, and pharmacare.

Susanne Lefebvre (People's Party) — Lefebvre carried the People's Party of Canada banner, running on the PPC's national platform of reduced government spending and lower immigration.

About the Riding

Granby is known throughout Quebec for its zoo—the Zoo de Granby—which is one of the province's most popular family attractions and a significant local employer. The city also hosts a vibrant cultural scene anchored by the Granby International Song Festival, which has launched the careers of numerous francophone artists. The broader region's economy blends manufacturing, agriculture, and a growing tourism sector that capitalizes on the Eastern Townships' natural beauty and four-season recreational opportunities.

The 2025 election in Shefford was one of the tightest races in Quebec, with both Liberal leader Mark Carney and Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet identifying the riding as a key battleground. Larouche's margin of victory was razor-thin, underscoring the competitive nature of the contest. The campaign centred on cost of living, housing affordability in a region experiencing population growth, agricultural trade protections amid US tariff threats, and seniors' issues—a longstanding priority for the incumbent. The riding's working-class and small-town character made affordability and local economic development the dominant concerns.