Calgary-Varsity

Calgary-Varsity lies in Calgary's northwest quadrant and takes in a mix of established and mature neighbourhoods including Varsity, Dalhousie, Brentwood, Banff Trail, University Heights, Parkdale, Point McKay, and Charleswood. The riding is anchored by the University of Calgary, which gives it a distinctly academic character and a population that skews younger and more educated than many suburban Calgary ridings. Many of the residential areas were developed in the 1960s and 1970s and feature mature tree-lined streets. The seat was open in 2015, as the previous PC MLA, Donna Kennedy-Glans, had chosen not to seek re-election. Kennedy-Glans had briefly left the PC caucus in March 2014 before returning in September 2014, but opted not to run again. The riding's proximity to the university and its mix of students, professors, and established professionals made it potentially fertile ground for the NDP's growing support.

Candidates

Stephanie McLean (NDP) — A graduate of the University of Calgary's Faculty of Law, McLean practised family and criminal law, running her own legal practice. She was a first-time candidate in 2015.

Susan Billington (Progressive Conservative) — Billington sought to hold the riding for the PCs in a challenging political environment, as the party faced headwinds from the floor-crossing controversy and the oil price downturn.

Sharon Polsky (Wildrose) — Polsky ran as the Wildrose candidate in the riding.

Pete Helfrich (Liberal) — Helfrich carried the Liberal banner in a riding that had some historical Liberal support, given its university-adjacent demographics.

Local Issues

With the University of Calgary at its heart, Calgary-Varsity's campaign discourse frequently touched on post-secondary education funding. The PC government's approach to university budgets, including the impact of the oil price downturn on provincial grants, was a concern for the thousands of students and faculty members in the riding. Tuition affordability, research funding, and the overall direction of post-secondary policy were prominent in local debates.

Health care was another significant issue. The riding's older neighbourhoods had an aging population that relied on nearby facilities like the Foothills Medical Centre. Wait times for specialist care and the adequacy of home care supports for seniors were frequent concerns. At the same time, younger families in the riding worried about access to family physicians and affordable childcare.

The broader economic downturn shaped the 2015 contest across Calgary-Varsity. Even in a riding with a more diversified economic base than many Calgary constituencies, the oil price collapse had knock-on effects on professional services, construction, and small businesses. Premier Prentice's pre-election budget, which introduced personal levies while leaving corporate taxes unchanged, was a galvanizing issue. His comment telling Albertans to look in the mirror to understand the province's fiscal situation alienated many voters in a riding that was already inclined to question the long-standing PC government.