Taylor Bachrach will be headed to Ottawa as the new MP for the Skeena-Bulkley Valley after winning the riding by more than 3,000 votes over his next closest competitor. He was declared the winner at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Bachrach has served as the mayor of Smithers since 2011. It will be the first time since 2004 that the region 鈥� the largest geographically in B.C., and seventh-largest geographically in Canada 鈥� has been represented by someone other than long-time NDP MP Nathan Cullen, who decided not to run this election. The area remains orange though, as the NDP once again ran the most successful campaign.

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Bachrach managed to hold off his main competitor, Claire Ratt茅e of the Conservative Party, outgaining her in the final total by 16,670 to 13,637. Bachrach won 40.9 per cent of the popular vote to Ratt茅e鈥檚 33.4 per cent.

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鈥淚鈥檝e had such an intense day. I started out in Prince Rupert this morning, and drove up the Skeena River one more time. I鈥檝e done it a dozen times over the last couple of months,鈥� Bachrach said in his victory speech at the Smithers Brewing Co. bar.

鈥淚 want to start tonight by thanking all of you,鈥� Bachrach said to his volunteers and supporters who had gathered for the occasion. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to thank our friend Nathan Cullen. Nathan is in Ottawa tonight, but I know there鈥檚 no place he鈥檇 rather be than here with us,鈥� Bachrach said of his outgoing fellow NDP MP predecessor. 鈥淲e鈥檝e knocked on thousands of doors over the last few months, and I can鈥檛 count the number of times I was told I have big shoes to fill.鈥�

鈥淚 want to thank Jagmeet Singh for doing such a good job and bringing positive energy to this campaign, and just lighting people up across the country. I really can鈥檛 wait to work with this team of New Democrats from coast to coast,鈥� Bachrach said of his new colleague, and elected party leader, in Ottawa.

Bachrach stressed a need to seriously address global climate change during his acceptance speech, saying he looks forward to working with the other parties on the matter, and that he hopes they recognize the seriousness of the issue as well. Bachrach also emphasized his desire to achieve universal pharmacare, invoking the words of Medicare founder and former NDP leader Tommy Douglas in his speech.

鈥淚 want to thank the town of Smithers for allowing me to be your mayor for the past eight years. It鈥檚 been the joy of my life, and such a tremendously rewarding experience,鈥� Bachrach said.

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鈥淭omorrow we鈥檙e going to wake up and we鈥檙e going to figure out what this adventure means. It鈥檚 going to be a heck of an experience, and it鈥檚 going to be a steep learning curve,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut that thing that I鈥檓 going to hold in my mind is: the rivers, the people that live in our communities 鈥� all the way from Atlin down to Bella Coola 鈥� all of these places that we hold so dear. This is a place that鈥檚 worth fighting for more than ever.鈥�

鈥淲ith the people in this room we can do almost anything. It鈥檚 going to be a lot of fun, let鈥檚 do it together,鈥� Bachrach concluded.

This was Ratt茅e first entry into federal politics, having served four years as a District of Kitimat councillor.

鈥淚 think there will be another election soon and I will definitely be running again,鈥� said an upbeat Ratt茅e late on Monday night as the final results trickled in. 鈥淭he result shows that people are looking for change. There haven鈥檛 been any results for our riding [under MP Cullen].鈥�

She congratulated Bachrach on his win and commended him for running a good campaign.

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Liberal party candidate Dave Birdi was a relative latecomer to the race, but still managed to finish in third place with 4,704 votes (11.5%). 鈥淩unning in this election has been an enlightening experience. Spending time in dialogue with communities from Atlin to Bella Coola, Fort St. James to Sandspit. This was an opportunity to engage and learn. New friendships have been formed,鈥� Birdi said.

鈥淭hank you to all the candidates and the organizers of the debates for sharing with the communities. Thank you to my family, supporters, and all volunteers contributing many hours of hard work, as well as the Liberal Party for this incredible opportunity to represent Skeena鈥揃ulkley Valley region,鈥� Birdi added.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 surprise me Taylor [Bachrach] is going to win,鈥� said Green Party candidate Mike Sawyer, who placed fourth with a final tally of 3,193 (7.8%). 鈥淕ood for him. I think he will be a good MP. His commitment during the election was he would show up and stand up, and I hope that he does that.鈥�

Sawyer was less optimistic about his party鈥檚 vote total, despite a small increase. 鈥淚 actually would think we would do better,鈥� Sawyer said. 鈥淗istorically we鈥檝e hovered around three per cent. I鈥檒l be happy if we鈥檙e in the double digits and we鈥檙e a little short of that right now.

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Rod Taylor from the Christian Heritage Party was the final candidate to hit the quadruple figure mark, finishing in fifth place with 1,343 votes (3.3 %). He gave his advice to the winner as the results came in.

鈥淕od has 鈥� through the voting process 鈥� entrusted him [Bachrach] with a great responsibility. He could exercise that responsibility and begin defending innocent human life. He could use that responsibility and begin supporting traditional marriage which is the building block of society. He could speak up for freedom of speech and the people who are now being restricted in their ability to speak the truth. So those choices will rest with him,鈥� Taylor said.

People鈥檚 Party of Canada candidate Jody Craven, who gathered 929 votes (2.3%) said this won鈥檛 be the last time he sets foot on the campaign trail.

鈥淚 would like to thank the PPC, my riding, my team and especially my family who didn鈥檛 see me for days while I was out on the campaign trail,鈥� Craven said. 鈥淓ven though I lost, I won鈥檛 give up. I will still be involved in the public, taking up people鈥檚 issues and concerns. I learned during the campaign that there are a lot of serious issues that still haven鈥檛 been addressed 鈥� government has to step up and start supporting Skeena-Bulkley Valley.鈥�

鈥淲e have issues with the forestry industry in the north and a lack of cellphone coverage along Highway 16. We should be doubling up on our healthcare as well,鈥� Craven added. 鈥淚 will be back again, in 18 months 鈥� I won鈥檛 give up.鈥�

Independent candidate Merv Ritchie watched the results come in at home on a pair of computer monitors while he ate dinner. Overall he was happy with his numbers, which totalled 155 (0.4%) when all was said and done.

鈥淲hen I ran the last provincial election I took about five per cent of the vote. It kind of shocked me how well I did,鈥� Ritchie said.

鈥淲ith eight candidates running, the fear factor really drives people. I think that鈥檚 why people have gone really hard to the NDP again,鈥� Ritchie said.

Fellow Independent candidate Danny Nunes, in typical fashion, made light of his loss. As the votes came in, Nunes was walking around downtown Kitimat playing Pokemon Go. 鈥淚f that counts as a headquarters,鈥� Nunes said.

鈥淚鈥檓 happy I鈥檓 not in last place,鈥� said Nunes, who just edged out Ritchie by claiming 164 votes (0.4%). No wizard [Ritchie] can beat Dan the Bear. The turnout was exactly what I expected.鈥� Nunes said this will be his final attempt at politics.

Approximately 60 per cent, or 39,760, of the 66,421 registered voters in the Skeena-Bulkley Valley turned up to the polls on Monday. This number does not include those who registered on election day, meaning the final total of voters in the riding is somewhere north of this mark.

With files from Jenna Cocullo, Brittany Gervais, Natalia Balcerzak, Thom Barker, Trevor Hewitt, Gerry Leibel, Aman Parhar and Marisca Bakker.