Edmonton Mill Woods

Edmonton Mill Woods encompasses the large planned community of Mill Woods in south-central Edmonton, bounded roughly by Whitemud Drive to the north, 91 Street to the west, 34 Street to the east, and Anthony Henday Drive to the south. Developed beginning in the early 1970s as one of Edmonton's first departures from the traditional street grid, Mill Woods is organized around a central town centre with surrounding residential communities. The riding was created in the 2012 redistribution, largely from the former Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont.

Candidates

Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal) — Born in the farming community of Banbhaura in Punjab, India, Sohi immigrated to Edmonton in 1981. After working as a bus driver, he entered municipal politics and was first elected to Edmonton City Council in 2007 representing Ward 12, winning re-election in 2010 with 64 percent of the vote and again in 2013 with 75 percent. He was acclaimed as the Liberal candidate for Edmonton Mill Woods in February 2015.

Tim Uppal (Conservative) — Previously the MP for Edmonton—Sherwood Park, where he was elected in 2008 and 2011, Uppal served as Minister of State for Democratic Reform and later as Minister of State for Multiculturalism in the Harper government. When his former riding was redrawn, he sought election in the new Edmonton Mill Woods riding.

Jasvir Deol (NDP) — Originally from Punjab, Deol immigrated to Canada in 1993 and ran as the federal NDP candidate in Edmonton Mill Woods. He brought community engagement experience to the campaign and ran on the NDP platform of expanded social programs and affordability measures.

Ralph McLean (Green Party) — McLean carried the Green Party standard in Edmonton Mill Woods, advocating for the party's environmental and economic sustainability platform.

Colin Stubbs (Independent), Allen K.W. Paley (Libertarian), Peter Downing (Christian Heritage Party), and Naomi Rankin (Communist) also appeared on the ballot.

About the Riding

Mill Woods is one of Edmonton's most multicultural communities, with large South Asian, Chinese, Filipino, and East African populations contributing to a vibrant mix of cultural institutions, places of worship, and ethnic businesses. The Mill Woods Town Centre shopping area serves as the commercial hub, while the surrounding residential communities feature a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartment complexes. The planned extension of the Valley Line LRT southeast to Mill Woods was a significant local issue in 2015, with residents anticipating improved transit connections to downtown. The economic downturn from falling oil prices weighed heavily on the riding, where many households depend on energy-sector employment. Immigration policy, childcare, and support for seniors were key local concerns.