Calgary Heritage

Calgary Heritage covers the southwestern suburbs of Calgary, stretching from the Glenmore Reservoir southward through established residential neighbourhoods to the city's southwestern boundary. The riding inherited much of the former Calgary Southwest constituency during the 2012 redistribution and first went to the polls in 2015, when it was held by then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Its communities range from mid-century suburbs near Chinook Centre to newer developments along the Fish Creek Provincial Park corridor.

Candidates

Bob Benzen (Conservative) was born in 1959 in Three Hills, Alberta, and built a career in data storage and information management serving the energy sector before entering politics. He won the riding in an April 2017 by-election following the resignation of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, capturing over 71 percent of the vote. He sought re-election in 2019 as the incumbent.

Scott Forsyth (Liberal) is a family physician who has practised in Calgary and holds both a medical degree and a law degree from the University of Calgary. A fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and an award-winning nature photographer published in Canadian Geographic, Forsyth also ran as the Liberal candidate in the 2017 Calgary Heritage by-election.

Holly Heffernan (NDP) is a retired registered nurse who had contested multiple provincial and federal elections for the NDP, including a provincial run in Drumheller-Stettler. She brought a healthcare perspective to the campaign.

Allie Tulick (Green Party) ran as the Green Party's standard-bearer in the riding.

Also seeking election were Stephanie Hoeppner (People's Party), Hunter Mills (Independent), and Larry R. Heather (Christian Heritage Party).

About the Riding

The riding is anchored by mature, family-oriented suburbs developed from the 1960s through the 1990s. Oakridge, Palliser, and Cedarbrae feature single-family homes on generous lots, while communities like Woodbine and Bridlewood to the southwest offer somewhat newer housing from the 1980s and 1990s. Pump Hill and Lakeview are among the riding's most affluent neighbourhoods, with homes commanding premium prices and expansive views of the Glenmore Reservoir and surrounding parkland.

Heritage Park Historical Village, situated on 127 acres along the reservoir's shore, is Canada's largest living history museum and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The Glenmore Reservoir and its surrounding pathway system provide a recreational spine through the riding, linking communities for cycling, walking, and cross-country skiing. Average household incomes in the riding exceeded the Calgary median, and many residents worked in management, finance, and the energy sector. Pipeline development, carbon pricing, and the federal government's approach to Alberta's resource economy dominated campaign conversation in the riding in 2019.