Voters get a close look at candidates

Because all six candidates present were running in Westmount for the first time, as well as the fact that the traditional meeting was held in the auditorium of Westmount High School instead of Victoria Hall, most residents entering the school shared the view of attendee Jacques Beauregard. “It’s just ‘one of those’,” he said. “Anything can happen…”

Many people came away with a newfound appreciation for Green Party candidate Claude William Genest. “Some of the men were really quite boring. The only man with any passion was Genest,” said Anne Elborne, a long-time Westmount resident.

Jasmine Diener, a new transplant to the area, echoed Elborne’s sentiments, though she wished she could have heard more from him. “I’m impressed with the candidate of the Green party," she said. "I thought he was really well-spoken. But I would have liked to see the questions divided more evenly. It was really dominated by Liberals and the NDP.”

Narvey Goldman, who has attended many candidate meetings, agreed with Diener, but he also noticed a change from past events. “People don’t seem to be as bound to the Liberal party as they were, which is a good thing,” he said.

William Keller wasn’t so sure about a change in people’s voting habits, even if he would love to see something new in the riding. “I’m dismayed by the fact that the people of Westmount are endeared to the Liberals, and that they can’t open their minds to voting for someone who may bring this community a chance to develop,” he said, though he also believed the NDP could play a spoiler role.

The contingent of NDP supporters in attendance certainly agreed, and most came away reassured by former CBC radio host and political neophyte Anne Lagacé Dowson. “I think Anne was even better than I hoped she would be," said party supporter Corinne Brown. "She understands people, and she answers questions directly and clearly,”

Whether or not Lagacé Dowson did enough to sway wayward Liberal voters, however, remains to be seen. But given that residents were willing to brave the auditorium’s heat to give her the chance, anything, as they say, can happen.

It was after all, ‘one of those’.