Edmonton-West Henday

Edmonton-West Henday spans western Edmonton, a riding defined by its geographic contrast between older inner-city neighbourhoods in its northeast corner and fast-growing suburban communities to the south and west. The established working-class areas of Calder, Athlone, and Wellington sit north of Yellowhead Trail, separated by a large industrial zone from the newer developments of Terra Losa, Belmead, Secord, and Rosenthal. The seat was open in 2023 after NDP MLA Jon Carson, elected in 2015, chose not to run again.

Candidates

Brooks Arcand-Paul (NDP) — A nehiyaw (Cree) lawyer raised on Alexander First Nation, Arcand-Paul is a direct descendant of catchistahwayskum, a Cree leader who adhered to Treaty 6 at Fort Edmonton in 1877. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in sociology and political science, then earned his law degree from the University of Ottawa in 2016. Before his election, he served as legal counsel for Alexander First Nation. Arcand-Paul, who carries the nehiyaw name sipiyisis (Little River), became the first Two Spirit MLA elected in Alberta. He received the Aboriginal Role Models of Alberta Award in 2016 and the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022.

Slava Cravcenco (United Conservative) — Originally from the Republic of Moldova, Cravcenco immigrated to Canada in 2010 with his family. He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and Law and owns a window and door restoration company in Edmonton. A former champion Moldovan table tennis player, he was active in community volunteering and youth sports events.

Dan Bildhauer (Liberal) — The Alberta Liberal candidate in the riding.

Local Issues

The Valley Line West LRT extension, planned to run from downtown Edmonton to Lewis Farms, was the riding's most significant infrastructure project during the 2019-2023 period. Utility relocation and early construction work began in 2019, with major construction underway by 2021. Residents along the route contended with years of disruption, while those in the riding's western communities looked forward to improved transit connections that would reduce dependence on congested road corridors along Stony Plain Road and Whitemud Drive.

In the riding's older northeast neighbourhoods of Calder and Athlone, concerns centred on aging infrastructure, community safety, and access to social services. Drug poisoning deaths and homelessness were visible concerns in these areas. Meanwhile, in the newer subdivisions of Secord and Rosenthal, the familiar suburban growth pressures applied: families demanded new schools, parks, and commercial amenities to keep pace with housing construction. Healthcare access was a cross-riding concern, with residents reporting difficulty finding family physicians as the province's doctor shortage worsened during and after the pandemic.