While the NDPB次元官网网址檚 Doug Routley was declared the winner of the Nanaimo-North Cowichan riding early in the evening, the south end of the Valley had to wait longer to find out who would be the Cowichan Valley ridingB次元官网网址檚 new MLA.

Sonia Furstenau was declared the winner at 10:40 p.m.

B次元官网网址淲e have a lot of work to do and weB次元官网网址檙e going to do it together,B次元官网网址� said Furstenau shortly after her victory.

B次元官网网址淭his was a campaign built on building community.B次元官网网址�

Furstenau said North American has its first Green Party caucus.

B次元官网网址淭hat is historic,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to demostrate that politics can be done differently.B次元官网网址�

The Greens are committed to working in the best interests of the people, she said.

B次元官网网址淧eople felt good about voting, they felt happy,B次元官网网址� Furstenau said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not responsible for other parties to suggest things are going differently than they are.B次元官网网址�

Supporter and North Cowichan councillor Maeve Maguire said B次元官网网址淭his is the most exciting place to be in B.C. right now.B次元官网网址�

In the early going the NDPB次元官网网址檚 Lori Iannidinardo came out to a small lead, with the Green PartyB次元官网网址檚 Sonia Furstenau on her heels and the BC LiberalsB次元官网网址� Steve Housser also in the race.

But as the night wore on Furstenau took a good-sized lead.

Housser was the first to concede.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hugely disappointed. Not so much for me but for the team that worked so hard,B次元官网网址� Housser said, not ruling out the idea of running again in the future. B次元官网网址淏ut it would be my third kick at the can and IB次元官网网址檇 be over 70.B次元官网网址�

Iannidinardo held out hope until almost midnight, but finally spoke to her supporters.

B次元官网网址淲e still have much to celebrate. This has been an amazing campaign. I have never felt so connected to and proud of my community,B次元官网网址� she said.