Edmonton-Riverview

Edmonton-Riverview is a provincial riding in west-central Edmonton that straddles the North Saskatchewan River, taking in some of the city's most established and affluent neighbourhoods including Windsor Park, Belgravia, Parkallen, Crestwood, Laurier Heights, and Parkview. The riding is home to parts of the University of Alberta campus and features proximity to the river valley's extensive trail network. Created in the 1997 boundary redistribution, the riding had been held by the Liberals under Kevin Taft from 2001 until his retirement in 2012, when Progressive Conservative Steve Young won the seat. Young was seeking re-election in 2015 amid a turbulent political climate shaped by the oil price crash and Prentice's controversial budget.

Candidates

Lori Sigurdson (NDP) — Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1961, Sigurdson held a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Alberta and both a Bachelor and Master of Social Work from the University of Calgary. She brought a 25-year career in social work to her candidacy, having worked in child welfare, mental health, community development, and social policy.

Steve Young (Progressive Conservative) — The incumbent MLA, Young was first elected in 2012. Born in Calgary in 1969, he played Major Junior Hockey in the Western Hockey League from 1986 to 1990 and was selected by the New York Islanders in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He attended the University of Alberta, graduating with a bachelor's degree in education in 1995 and an MBA in 2004. He served as an Edmonton Police Service officer from 1995 to 2012 and also taught criminal law at MacEwan University. Young's tenure was marked by controversy: he was dropped from a planned cabinet appointment by Premier Alison Redford over undisclosed allegations from his policing career, and the RCMP conducted a criminal investigation related to the release of a young offender's identity during his time with EPS.

Donna Wilson (Liberal) — Dr. Wilson was a registered nurse and professor at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Nursing, with research focused on health services and health policy. She had previously run for the Liberals in the 2014 Edmonton-Whitemud by-election.

Ian Crawford (Wildrose) — Crawford ran as the Wildrose candidate in the riding.

Brandon Beringer (Alberta Party) — Beringer ran as the Alberta Party candidate in the riding.

Sandra Wolf Lange (Green Party) — Wolf Lange ran as the Green Party candidate in the riding.

Glenn Miller (Independent) — Miller ran as an independent candidate in the riding.

Local Issues

Health care was a central concern in Edmonton-Riverview, given the riding's proximity to major medical facilities and the University of Alberta Hospital. Emergency department wait times, physician shortages, and seniors' care were prominent issues, particularly as the riding had a significant population of older residents in its mature neighbourhoods. The Prentice government's handling of health care budgets, combined with the appointment of former Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel as Health Minister in the neighbouring Edmonton-Whitemud riding, made health policy a frequent topic at doorsteps.

The oil price downturn weighed on the riding's professional class. Many residents worked in sectors connected to the energy industry — engineering, finance, and consulting — and job losses were mounting through early 2015. Prentice's budget, which raised personal income taxes on those earning above $100,000 while leaving corporate rates unchanged, was especially contentious in this higher-income riding.

Infrastructure and neighbourhood development also drew attention. Residents voiced concerns about infill development pressures in the riding's mature neighbourhoods, balancing densification goals against the character of established communities. Maintenance of the river valley trail system and parkland, central to the riding's identity, was an ongoing priority for local residents and community leagues.