Calgary Heritage

Calgary Heritage is a federal electoral district encompassing affluent southwestern suburbs of Calgary, Alberta. The by-election was called after former Prime Minister Stephen Harper resigned his seat on August 26, 2016 to return to private life, including accepting corporate directorships and establishing a consulting firm. Harper had represented the riding and its predecessor since 2002.

Candidates

Bob Benzen (Conservative) — A businessman specializing in data storage and information management, Benzen had founded and built a successful data management business serving the energy sector. He won the Conservative nomination on October 23, 2016, defeating lawyer Rick Billington and city prosecutor Paul Frank.

Scott Forsyth (Liberal) — A family physician and professional photographer from Calgary. Forsyth was an award-winning photographer published in Canadian Geographic who was named Photographic Artist of the Year for two consecutive years (2014 and 2015) by the Professional Photographers of Canada (Alberta Chapter). He was elected into the College of Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2015.

Khalis Ahmed (NDP) — The NDP candidate in the by-election.

Taryn Knorren (Green Party) — The Green Party candidate in the by-election.

About the Riding

Calgary Heritage is located in the southwestern quadrant of Calgary, covering approximately 70 square kilometres with a population of roughly 119,000. The riding includes the established neighbourhoods of Haysboro, Lakeview, Oakridge, Braeside, Cedarbrae, Canyon Meadows, Woodbine, Bridlewood, and Evergreen, among others. Several communities border Fish Creek Provincial Park, one of the largest urban parks in Canada.

The riding is primarily residential and has been considered a Conservative stronghold since its creation. Many of its neighbourhoods were developed from the 1950s through the 1980s as Calgary grew southward. Eagle Ridge and other communities bordering Fish Creek Provincial Park feature significant green space.

The local economy is closely tied to Calgary's energy sector, with many residents employed in oil and gas companies headquartered in downtown Calgary. The riding includes a mix of post-war suburbs closer to the city centre and newer developments in its southern portions.