Ontario election: Big winners and losers

Liberal candidate Han Dong, far right, defeated long-time MPP Rosario Marchese in the Trinity-Spadina riding. (Nathan Denette / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Liberals emerged the clear winners of the Ontario election after being handed a majority mandate Thursday, but there were upsets in ridings held by all three major parties.

Here are some of the surprising wins and losses in the 2014 Ontario election:

Beaches-East York

The NDP suffered a heavy blow in Beaches- East York, where veteran MPP Michael Prue lost to Liberal Arthur Potts by only a few hundred votes. Prue, who was mayor of East York in the 90s, has represented the riding at the provincial level since 2001. Potts, who once ran for Toronto council, is co-founder of a waste management firm.

Trinity-Spadina

Traditionally an NDP stronghold, Trinity-Spadina turned Liberal red after community organizer Han Dong defeated long-time MPP Rosario Marchese. Trinity-Spadina residents will go to the polls later this month for a federal byelection to replace former MP Olivia Chow.

Etobicoke-Lakeshore

Toronto city councillor Peter Milczyn defeated his former council colleague Doug Holyday to return the Etobicoke-Lakeshore seat to the Liberals. Holyday, a longtime friend and supporter of the Ford family and former deputy mayor, beat Milczyn in a tight race for the provincial seat during a 2013 byelection.

Oshawa

Despite some big defeats, the NDP also made some interesting gains on election night. Candidate Jennifer French ousted PC MPP Jerry Ouellette, who has represented the riding at Queen's Park since 1995. French is a teacher and labour rights advocate who was an active member of the Elementary Teachers' Federation in Durham and the Durham Region Labour Council.

Thornhill

It was a similar story in Thornhill, where veteran Vaughan councillor Sandra Yeung Racco defeated rookie Conservative MPP Gila Martow in a rematch of the 2013 byelection. Yeung Racco's husband, Mario Racco, was MPP for the riding from 2003 to 2007. He was defeated by former PC MPP Peter Shurman.

Guelph

Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner failed to win his seat. The riding remained in the hands of Liberal MPP and Education Minister Liz Sandals. Sandals also beat NDP candidate and folksinger James Gordon.

Cambridge

Liberal Kathryn McGarry was able to unseat PC MPP Rob Leone, ending almost 20 years of PC control in the riding.

London West

Wayne Gretzky's uncle Al Gretzky ran as a member of the Freedom Party of Ontario. He was defeated by NDP MPP Peggy Sattler.

Windsor West

In one of the only big Liberal defeats of the election, Children and Youth Service Minister Teresa Piruzza lost her seat to NDP candidate Lisa Gretzky, a former school trustee in the Greater Essex County District School Board. Gretzky's husband is also said to be a relative of hockey great Wayne Gretzky.

Sudbury

After 20 years leading the riding, the Liberals fell to the NDP in Sudbury. The Liberals had held their Queen's Park seat since 1995, but it was left vacant when Liberal MPP Rick Bartolucci announced his retirement in February. The NDP's Joe Cimino will take over as Sudbury's MPP.