Governor General David Johnston has dissolved Parliament and Canadian politicians are officially on the husting.

This came after Conservative Leader Stephen Harper paid a visit to Rideau Hall requesting that an election be held on October 19.

It will be the longest campaign in modern Canadian history.

Here are my picks for three of the more interesting races in the region.

1. Vancouver Centre

Four strong women are going head-to-head in a riding that's sometimes referred to as Downtown British Columbia. It includes the city's financial district, a large LGBT community, many renters, a thriving arts community, and a growing immigrant population. 

Incumbent Hedy Fry is undefeated since 1993, making her the longest-serving Liberal MP in B.C. history.

This time, she faces a tough opponent in the NDP's Constance Barnes, who topped the polls in the Vancouver park board election in 2011.

The Greens are running former Bowen Island mayor Lisa Barrett, whose formidable intellect will enliven all-candidates debates.

The Conservative candidate, Elaine Allan, is former executive director of Shelter Net B.C., former director of communications with the John Howard Society, and former coordinator of the WISH Drop-In Society.

Redistribution has removed much of the Fairview neighbourhood from Vancouver Centre, which might make this campaign a tougher slog for Fry.

2. Surrey-Newton

Incumbent New Democrat Jinny Sims is a fiery debater and a former president of the B.C. Teachers' Federation.

With Libby Davies retiring as an MP, Sims's progressive political disposition is increasingly valued by those who worry about the NDP's drift to the right under Tom Mulcair.

With redistribution, however, Sims might have a tough fight to get reelected as her former Newton-North Delta riding's poorer area has been shifted into the new riding of Surrey Centre.

She's facing Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal, who was in Parliament from 2006 to 2011. Dhaliwal was convicted in 2013 under the Income Tax Act for failing to complete tax returns. That forced him to step aside from running in the last B.C. election.

The Conservative, Harpreet Singh, is a high-profile broadcaster on Joy TV and Red FM radio. With his nightly TV show, his name recognition might even be higher than his two opponents.

This race will occur as the riding is in the midst of a crime wave, which has included numerous drive-by shootings.

3. Vancouver Granville

This is a new riding carved out of the middle of the City of Vancouver, encompassing Fairview, Shaughnessy, the Oakridge area, and stretching all the way south to Marpole. It's home to some of the province's richest residents and keenest environmentalists. It's also the centre of Vancouver's Jewish community.

Demographically, it's a good bet for the Conservatives, who are represented by corporate lawyer and investment manager Erinn Broshko.

The Liberals feel they have a star candidate in Jody Wilson-Raybould, former regional chief with the Assembly of First Nations.

And the NDP has nominated political strategist Mira Oreck, who helped quarterback Gregor Robertson's successful 2008 mayoral campaign and who moved to New York to assist Barack Obama's 2012 presidential campaign.

Oreck is the only one of the three who grew up in the riding.