Calgary-Currie

Calgary-Currie is a provincial electoral district in Calgary's southwest, encompassing the neighbourhoods of Killarney-Glengarry, Rutland Park, Currie Barracks, Richmond, Knob Hill, South Calgary, Bankview, and parts of the 17th Avenue corridor. Created in 1971, the riding was significantly redrawn in 2010 when its northern boundary was pushed up to the Bow River. The former Currie Barracks military base had been undergoing redevelopment into a residential community, adding new population to the riding. Heading into 2019, NDP incumbent Brian Malkinson — who had been elevated to Minister of Service Alberta in 2018 — sought re-election in what was expected to be a competitive race.

Candidates

Nicholas Milliken (United Conservative) — Milliken holds a BA in Economics and a Bachelor of Commerce with distinction from the University of Alberta, and a law degree from the University of Saskatchewan. After working as a commercial litigator at an international law firm, he started a recruitment company in Calgary and scaled it to operate across Canada. The 2019 election was his first run for public office.

Brian Malkinson (NDP)* — Before entering politics, Malkinson worked as a diesel technician in the oil and gas industry. First elected in 2015, he was appointed Minister of Service Alberta in 2018. He was one of the NDP's Calgary-based cabinet ministers heading into the 2019 campaign.

Local Issues

Development and neighbourhood character dominated conversation in Calgary-Currie. The Killarney-Glengarry area was the subject of an area redevelopment plan process that was kicked off in spring 2018 but put on hold in fall 2018 for scope review. Residents debated the pace and scale of infill development along 17th Avenue and in the older residential streets, where new multi-storey buildings were replacing single-family homes. The redevelopment of Currie Barracks into a mixed-use residential community was bringing new density, and while some welcomed the growth, others worried about traffic congestion, parking shortages, and the loss of neighbourhood character.

The Southwest BRT line, which opened in late 2018 at a cost of nearly $78 million, ran through parts of the riding and connected communities to the downtown core. While the new transit option was welcomed, residents had concerns about the route's impact on local traffic patterns and whether it adequately served the older communities farther from the main corridor.

The economy was a significant factor in this riding, where many residents had connections to the energy sector. The downtown office vacancy crisis had a ripple effect on southwest Calgary businesses, and the carbon tax was a frequently debated topic. The race between Milliken and Malkinson was expected to be close, and it ultimately proved to be one of the tightest contests in the province, decided by just 191 votes.