Sherwood Park

Sherwood Park is an urban community within Strathcona County, situated immediately east of Edmonton. It is one of Canada's largest unincorporated urban areas, with a population that had grown steadily through the 2000s and early 2010s. The community is closely tied to both Edmonton's economy and the heavy industrial activity along Refinery Row and in Alberta's Industrial Heartland. Sherwood Park is known for its well-established residential neighbourhoods, strong school systems, and suburban character.

The riding had elected Progressive Conservative MLAs for decades, most recently Cathy Olesen, who won the seat in 2012 after longtime MLA Iris Evans retired. In an unusual twist, the 2015 race featured two former mayors of Strathcona County—Olesen running for the PCs and Linda Osinchuk running for the Wildrose—along with NDP candidate Annie McKitrick. With the conservative vote split between two well-known local figures, the dynamics were ripe for an upset.

Candidates

Annie McKitrick (NDP) — McKitrick was born in France and came to Canada to attend McGill University, where she earned a bachelor of science in ecology. She also held a master's degree in education and a diploma in public-sector management from the University of Victoria. Her career included research with the Canadian International Development Agency in Kyrgyzstan, coordination of income-generating projects in Thailand, and work with a non-governmental organization responsible for refugee and community development programs in Southeast Asia. From 1996 to 2005, she served as a school trustee and chair of the Richmond school board in British Columbia. Before running for office, she operated her own consulting practice specializing in diversity, organizational development, and strategic planning.

Cathy Olesen (Progressive Conservative) — Olesen served as a Strathcona County councillor for three terms starting in 1995 before being elected mayor in 2004 and re-elected in 2007. After losing the mayoral race in 2010, she won the PC nomination for Sherwood Park in 2012 and was elected MLA.

Linda Osinchuk (Wildrose) — Osinchuk defeated Olesen in the 2010 Strathcona County mayoral race, serving as mayor until she was narrowly defeated by Roxanne Carr in October 2013. She subsequently sought the Wildrose nomination in Sherwood Park for the 2015 provincial election.

Local Issues

The Heartland Transmission Project was a deeply contentious issue in Sherwood Park. The approved route for the high-voltage power line ran immediately east of Edmonton, passing near homes, schools, and daycares in Sherwood Park. Residents had fought for years to have the line buried underground, and community groups like RETA (Responsible Electricity Transmission for Albertans) organized sustained opposition. The Alberta Utilities Commission's approval of the overhead route, and the courts' refusal to overturn that decision, left many residents frustrated with the provincial government's handling of the project.

Strathcona County's economic relationship with the petrochemical and refining industries along Refinery Row also shaped local concerns. While the industrial sector provided significant employment and tax revenue, residents balanced those benefits against questions about environmental monitoring, air quality, and the management of pipeline and industrial development near residential areas.

The oil price crash added a layer of economic anxiety. Many Sherwood Park residents worked in the energy sector or in industries that served it, and the wave of layoffs and spending cuts that began in late 2014 hit household incomes and consumer confidence across the community. Education funding and class sizes were also prominent concerns in a community that placed a high value on its public and Catholic school systems.