Chestermere—Rocky View

Chestermere—Rocky View lay just east of Calgary, encompassing the rapidly growing City of Chestermere and surrounding portions of Rocky View County. Chestermere had experienced explosive population growth through the 2000s and early 2010s, reaching more than 17,000 by its 2014 municipal census. In late 2014, the town council voted to pursue city status, which took effect on January 1, 2015. The riding's first and only MLA, Wildrose's Bruce McAllister, had been part of the December 2014 floor crossing to the PCs, provoking sharp backlash from his constituents. McAllister was acclaimed as the PC candidate, while Wildrose supporters rallied behind a new standard-bearer.

Candidates

Leela Sharon Aheer (Wildrose) — Aheer was born in Edmonton in 1970 and moved with her family to Chestermere in 1979. She graduated from Chestermere High School in 1988 before spending time in South India, where her family had roots. She earned a bachelor of music degree from the University of Manitoba and ran a music studio in Chestermere for twenty-two years, teaching vocal performance in seven languages. She had five choirs and worked as a private consultant providing music programming for children with special needs. Her family also operated local businesses including a car wash and gas station.

Bruce McAllister (Progressive Conservative) — McAllister was first elected as a Wildrose MLA in 2012, serving as the party's education and advanced education critic. He crossed the floor to the PCs in December 2014 alongside Danielle Smith and seven other caucus members. He was acclaimed as the PC nominee but faced significant anger from constituents who viewed the crossing as a betrayal.

William James Pelech (NDP) — Pelech ran for the NDP in a riding that had historically leaned strongly conservative.

Jamie Lall (Independent) — Lall ran as an independent candidate.

Coral Bliss Taylor (Green Party) — Taylor carried the Green Party banner in the riding.

Matt Grant (Independent) — Grant ran as an independent candidate.

Local Issues

Chestermere's rapid growth placed enormous strain on local infrastructure, particularly schools. Rocky View Schools struggled to keep pace with enrolment, and parents lobbied the provincial government for new school construction funding. The transition to city status raised questions about Chestermere's relationship with Rocky View County and the intermunicipal planning disputes that accompanied boundary and development decisions along the city's edges.

Transportation infrastructure was a daily frustration for the riding's many Calgary commuters. Highway capacity and interchange improvements were needed to manage the growing traffic flows between Chestermere and Calgary. Water and wastewater infrastructure also required expansion to serve new subdivisions.

The floor-crossing controversy dominated the political atmosphere. Many residents felt McAllister had abandoned the principles on which he was elected, and the Wildrose constituency association openly repudiated his move. The riding became a bellwether for whether voters would punish the floor-crossers, and the contest between Aheer and McAllister was one of the most closely watched races of the campaign.