The race is underway to determine Canada's 41st Parliament, and local riding constituency associations are working overtime to get their candidates into the pubic realm.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked Governor General David Johnston to dissolve Parliament Saturday morning after the House of Commons passed a Liberal motion of non-confidence by a vote of 156-145 on March 24.
Nanaimo is divided into two federal ridings — Nanaimo-Alberni and Nanaimo-Cowichan.
In Nanaimo-Alberni, Conservative MP James Lunney, who has held the riding since 2000, will defend his seat in Parliament. In the 2008 federal election, Lunney earned 28,930 votes, almost 47 per cent of the riding's votes.
NDP candidate Zeni Maartman will challenge Lunney for the second time. In 2008, her first time in the race, she earned 19,680 votes or 31 per cent of the ballots.
New to the race for 2011 are Liberal candidate Renee Miller and Green candidate Myron Jesperson.
In Nanaimo-Cowichan, incumbent NDP MP Jean Crowder, first elected in 2004, will also defend her seat in Parliament. In 2008, Crowder earned 28,558 votes or almost 47 per cent of her riding's support.
The Conservatives finished second in 2008 with 19,615 votes and will have a new contender. First-time candidate John Koury, a North Cowichan councillor, will campaign to win the seat in 2011.
Both the Liberals and Green Party will have new candidates. The Liberals, as of press time Monday, had yet to announce their candidate while the Greens announced Anne-Marie Benoit as their chosen candidate.
To determine which riding you are in, please visit www.elections.ca. Advance polls will be available April 22, April 23 and April 25.
Canadians go to the polls May 2.