Airdrie—Cochrane

Airdrie—Cochrane is a newly created federal riding northwest of Calgary, established through the 2022 redistribution to reflect the explosive population growth in the Calgary exurbs. The riding encompasses the city of Airdrie—one of Alberta's fastest-growing municipalities, with a population exceeding 90,000 in 2025—the town of Cochrane, and the central portion of Rocky View County between them. Carved primarily from the former Banff—Airdrie riding, it is a suburban and exurban district defined by young families, new housing developments, and long commutes into Calgary.

Candidates

Blake Richards (Conservative) is the incumbent, having represented this area continuously since 2008 under successive riding names including Wild Rose and Banff—Airdrie. Born in Olds, Alberta, Richards attended Red Deer College and the University of Calgary, earning a degree in political science. Before entering politics, he worked in the oil field, agriculture, and real estate, and served as a volunteer firefighter. In Ottawa, he has held roles including Chief Opposition Whip, shadow minister for Veterans Affairs, and chair of several parliamentary committees.

Sean Secord (Liberal) is a Cochrane resident with extensive healthcare leadership experience. He holds master's degrees in healthcare and business and a Certified Health Executive designation from the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Secord previously managed the completion and opening of two newly built hospitals in Yukon and played a key role in establishing that territory's dedicated medevac program.

Sarah Zagoda (NDP) is a school technologist at Airdrie's largest high school with twenty years of experience in the technology industry. A mother of three and a second-time candidate—she previously ran for the NDP in Banff—Airdrie in 2021—Zagoda serves as president of the Airdrie-East NDP association.

David Sabine (Libertarian) and Christopher Bell (Christian Heritage Party) also stood as candidates in the riding.

About the Riding

Airdrie—Cochrane sits in the corridor between Calgary's northern edge and the Rocky Mountain foothills. Airdrie, straddling the Queen Elizabeth II Highway roughly 30 kilometres north of downtown Calgary, has grown from a small town into a city of over 90,000 in barely two decades, driven by relatively affordable housing and proximity to Calgary employment. Cochrane, to the west along Highway 1A at the edge of the Bow River valley, has experienced similarly rapid expansion and is now home to more than 35,000 residents. Rocky View County's acreages and hamlets fill the landscape between the two centres.

The riding's economy is overwhelmingly tied to Calgary. Most working residents commute into the city for employment in energy, construction, professional services, and trades, making highway congestion and transit connectivity persistent concerns. Local retail, services, and a growing number of home-based and small businesses round out the economic base.

In 2025, affordability dominated the riding's political conversation despite its reputation as a relatively prosperous bedroom community. Rapid population growth strained municipal infrastructure, schools, and healthcare facilities—Airdrie and Cochrane both lack full-service hospitals, forcing residents to travel to Calgary for many medical needs. The US trade dispute added anxiety in a riding where many households depend on the energy sector. Property taxes, childcare access, and the cost of groceries and fuel were recurring concerns among young families stretching to meet mortgage payments in new subdivisions.