2011 Canadian federal election

In Canada, grown-ups get to vote for the people who will be in charge of the country. It's like picking the captain of your sports team, but for all of Canada! In 2011, everyone went to the polls on May 2nd to choose who would lead them for the next few years. It was a really important day for deciding what Canada would be like!

Before the vote, the government wasn't doing a great job, so they had to have a new election. The Conservative Party, who were already in charge, won even more seats. This was super exciting for them! But the Liberal Party, who usually win a lot, had a really tough time and ended up with fewer seats than ever before. It was like they lost their favorite toy!

The New Democratic Party (NDP) had an amazing day! They won more seats than they ever had in their whole history. It was like they suddenly grew taller than a giraffe! They even became the 'Official Opposition,' which means they are the main group watching the government and making sure they do a good job. They also did really well in Quebec, which was a big surprise!

Guess what? The Green Party, who care a lot about the planet, also had a big win! For the very first time, they got one person elected to Parliament. This is Elizabeth May, and she's now a Member of Parliament. It shows that even smaller parties can make a difference and get their voice heard. It was a day full of unexpected turns!