Change could sweep Vancouver Island in Saturday’s B.C. election. Experts say as many as five Island ridings that are currently held by the NDP, could be won by the Conservatives this time around.

The lunch rush at B’s Diner in Errington, buzzed with people on Friday. What was on everyone’s lips was the imminent B.C. election.

“I’m excited yeah. I think it’s going to be such an exciting movement tomorrow,” said 29-year-old voter Brooklyn Svenson.

“It makes no difference to me, it’s about my grandkids, they do… I’m voting for my grandkids,” said retiree Dennis Ozero. 

“We need a change. I think our current government just doesn’t have the answers that are necessary,” said retiree Peter Haseltine.

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“It’s interesting. I think at least on the left everybody’s weighing options. They’re split. On the right too. But it seems like its more concentrated for the Conservative Party,” said Rod Moreno, a voter from Nanaimo.

B’s Diner, is in the riding of Ladysmith-Oceanside. One of several seats that are currently held by the NDP that polling suggests could be won by the Conservatives on Saturday night. 

“When I say toss up, that means that it could go either way,” said Daniel Westlake, a senior research fellow in political studies at Vancouver Island University.

According to Westlake, polling shows that the NDP stronghold over Vancouver Island appears to be dramatically loosening in this election, particularly in ridings north of the Malahat. 

“They’re in a place that we think of as an NDP place, but if you weren’t looking at British Columbia, if you’re looking at the potential density, they are rural ridings,” said Westlake.

“These are ridings that in a lot of other circumstances go Conservative. So that creates some really interesting dynamics to watch. And maybe why we’re starting to see these ridings register as close races.”

Polling suggests the tightest races are in the ridings of Victoria-Beacon Hill, Cowichan Valley, Ladysmith-Oceanside, Nanaimo-Lantzville, and Mid-Island-Pacific Rim.

“They’re not necessarily all going to swing, but yeah, that seems right on which ones are competitive and which ones will be worth looking at,” said Westlake. 

“I think it’s going to be a lot of younger people coming in, and actually voting for once in their lives,” said Svenson.

 Making a recipe for a very exciting election night on Vancouver Island.