NDP members living in the riding of Toronto-Danforth will choose a candidate on Monday night to replace the late Jack Layton.
Five candidates are up for the nomination, all of whom are running for the first time.
Lawyer Justin Duncan is one of five people seeking the nomination.
All of the candidates want to build on what Layton accomplished, he said.
“I think everybody would agree that nobody can replace Jack and I think what we’re all trying to do is be nominated so we can carry on his legacy of social justice and environmental protection,” Duncan said.
Layton’s former constituency assistant, Claire Prashaw, is also running for the nomination.
“He always said it was about more than him. It was about his values, his beliefs,” said Prashaw.
Ashraf Ali Rao, Craig Scott and Hanif Sheikh are also seeking the nomination in Toronto-Danforth.
The successful candidate will represent the NDP in a byelection for the riding.
The nomination meeting at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Layton’s wife, Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow, and the late NDP leader’s son, Mike Layton, are expected to attend.
At the meeting, each candidate will have a chance to make a speech before the voting begins.
The successful candidate will need to win more than 50 per cent of the vote.
If that does not happen on the first ballot, the candidate with the lowest number of votes will be dropped and the process will continue until a winner is chosen.
Prior to his death last August, Layton had been the MP for Toronto-Danforth for more than seven years.