Airdrie-East

Airdrie-East is a provincial electoral district created by the 2017 Electoral Boundaries Commission, encompassing most of the City of Airdrie east of 8th Street along with rural areas stretching west past Keoma. Airdrie, located approximately 30 kilometres north of Calgary along the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, experienced rapid population growth during the 2010s. Wildrose MLA Angela Pitt, who had represented the predecessor Airdrie riding since 2015 and joined the UCP upon its formation in 2017, sought re-election in this newly drawn seat.

Candidates

Angela Pitt (United Conservative) — Born and raised in Airdrie, Pitt was an entrepreneur with a marketing background who ran a local events and marketing business. She was first elected in 2015 under the Wildrose Party banner and joined the UCP upon the 2017 merger. In June 2018, she won the UCP nomination for Airdrie-East with 71% of the vote, defeating sports broadcaster Roger Millions.

Roxie Baez Zamora (NDP) — Born in Mexico, Baez Zamora gained experience as a journeyman scaffolder and safety officer in the construction industry, working in Saskatchewan’s potash mines before moving to Alberta. She identified infrastructure, health care, and education as her top priorities.

Alex Luterbach (Alberta Party) — The Alberta Party’s candidate in the riding.

Rick Northey (Freedom Conservative) — The Freedom Conservative Party candidate in Airdrie-East.

Jeff Olson (Alberta Independence) — The Alberta Independence Party candidate in the riding.

Richard Absalom D. Herdman (Independent) — An independent candidate in the riding.

Local Issues

Airdrie’s rapid growth was the central issue for voters in Airdrie-East. The city’s population had surged past 60,000 by 2019, placing enormous pressure on schools, roads, and recreational facilities. Airdrie remained one of Alberta’s largest municipalities without a hospital, and residents who needed emergency or acute care had to travel to Calgary, raising concerns about ambulance response times and access to timely treatment.

Health care broadly was a significant concern, with residents pushing for expanded mental health services and other programs to serve the growing population. School capacity was strained, and parents in newer communities sought commitments for new school construction. The economic downturn that began with the 2014 oil price collapse continued to affect Airdrie families, many of whom commuted to Calgary for employment in the energy sector. The NDP’s carbon tax and the UCP’s promise to repeal it were frequently debated, as were concerns about property crime and community safety in the fast-growing city.