Calgary-Falconridge

Located in Calgary's far northeast, Calgary-Falconridge is one of the most ethnically diverse ridings in the province. The communities of Falconridge, Castleridge, and the eastern portion of Taradale were carved into a new riding during the 2017 redistribution, and the area also borders Coral Springs. The flat, open streetscape of the northeast is punctuated by strip malls, gurdwaras, mosques, and cultural centres that serve large South Asian, Filipino, and East African populations. Many residents arrived in Canada within the past two decades, and the riding functions as one of Calgary's primary settlement corridors. Family sizes tend to be larger than the city average, household incomes sit below the median, and multi-generational living arrangements are common. The 2023 rematch between UCP incumbent Devinder Toor and NDP challenger Parmeet Singh Boparai drew significant attention after their 2019 contest was decided by just 91 votes following a judicial recount.

Candidates

Parmeet Singh Boparai (NDP) — A longtime northeast Calgary resident, Boparai holds a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, a Diploma in Power Engineering from SAIT, and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Punjab Technical University. He works as a commercial and residential real estate agent and has deep community roots, having served as president of Dashmesh Culture Centre and chairman of Khalsa School Calgary. He is a community advocate on mental health, anti-racism, and anti-bullying issues.

Devinder Toor (United Conservative)* — Toor won the riding's inaugural contest in 2019 by 91 votes after a judicial recount, but his first term was overshadowed by an Elections Alberta investigation. He was fined $15,000 for violating five sections of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, including exceeding expense limits and accepting a prohibited contribution from a company of which he was a director. His campaign's chief financial officer and a related numbered company were also fined, bringing the total penalties to $33,500.

Local Issues

Transit infrastructure was the most pressing practical concern in Calgary-Falconridge. The northeast remains one of the most transit-dependent yet underserved quadrants of the city. Many residents lack access to a personal vehicle and rely on bus routes with long headways and circuitous connections to reach CTrain stations, employment centres, and services. For shift workers in food processing, warehousing, and health care — industries that employ a disproportionate share of the riding's residents — inadequate evening and weekend transit service was a daily barrier. The Green Line LRT's eventual northern extension would serve this area, but construction remained years away.

Health care access and the family physician shortage were acute in the northeast. Walk-in clinics served as de facto primary care for many families, and language barriers made navigating the health system even more challenging for recent immigrants. The emergency room overcrowding crisis that gripped Calgary in 2022 and 2023 was felt most sharply by communities without reliable access to a regular family doctor.

Affordability dominated doorstep conversations. Rising food prices, utility costs, and insurance premiums squeezed household budgets that were already tight. Many families in the riding relied on a single income or multiple part-time jobs, and the end of pandemic-era government supports left them more exposed to inflation. Rental costs climbed as Calgary's vacancy rate tightened, and larger families competing for affordable multi-bedroom units faced limited options.