Calgary Midnapore

Calgary Midnapore is a federal electoral district in the southern portion of Calgary, Alberta. The by-election was called after Conservative MP Jason Kenney resigned his seat effective September 23, 2016 to seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, with the goal of uniting Alberta's conservative parties.

Candidates

Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) — A former Canadian diplomat who had served at postings in Argentina, El Salvador, and Dallas, Texas. Kusie held a degree in Political Science from the University of Calgary and an MBA from Rutgers University. She had previously run in Calgary's Ward 12 in the 2013 municipal election and served as executive director of Common Sense Calgary, a citizens' advocacy group focused on taxation and municipal spending.

Haley Brown (Liberal) — A business project manager born and raised in Alberta with a record of community service in Calgary. Brown had previously been the Liberal candidate in Calgary Midnapore during the 2015 general election.

Holly Heffernan (NDP) — The NDP candidate in the by-election.

Ryan Zedic (Green Party) — The Green Party candidate in the by-election.

About the Riding

Calgary Midnapore is a primarily residential riding encompassing Calgary's south-central portion. It is bordered by the Bow River to the east and is notable for its several man-made lake communities, including Lake Bonavista, Lake Midnapore, and Lake Chaparral. Lake Bonavista, developed starting in 1967, was the first community in Canada built around a man-made lake, establishing a model for subsequent lake communities in southern Calgary.

The riding includes the neighbourhoods of Midnapore, Sundance, Lake Bonavista, Shawnessy, Chaparral, and Walden, among others. Fish Creek Provincial Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America, runs through portions of the riding. According to the 2016 census, the riding had a population of approximately 121,000.

About 26 percent of the riding's population are immigrants, with significant populations born in the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and China. The riding has been a Conservative stronghold since its creation, with the local economy closely tied to Calgary's energy and professional services sectors.