Chestermere—Strathmore

East of Calgary, this riding encompasses the lakeside City of Chestermere, the Town of Strathmore, and surrounding portions of Rocky View County and Wheatland County. Chestermere has grown rapidly as a bedroom community for Calgary commuters drawn by its lake, newer housing stock, and proximity to the city, while Strathmore maintains a more independent small-town identity anchored by agriculture and local commerce. The riding was without its 2019 incumbent, Leela Sharon Aheer, who chose not to seek re-election after finishing last in the 2022 UCP leadership race and amid a protracted dispute over her constituency association board.

Candidates

Chantelle De Jonge (United Conservative) — De Jonge grew up on a farm in rural southern Alberta and is a graduate of the University of Calgary, where she earned a bachelor's degree with distinction in economics and philosophy and received the Professor Z.M. Kubinski Prize in Economics. She holds a trades diploma in dental assisting and worked in the dental industry for nearly a decade, serving as president of the Calgary Dental Assistants Association. She volunteers with Faith Beyond Belief and with The Sunrise of Life Center, a home for street children in Tanzania.

Raj Jessel (NDP) — Jessel has lived in Chestermere for 15 years and worked as a Calgary transit operator for 24 years. Before that, he was a teacher in India and a cab driver in Calgary. He serves as an executive board member of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583 and previously sat on the Chestermere Library board. He was the federal NDP candidate in Calgary—Shepard in 2021.

Kerry Lambert (Take It Back) — Lambert ran as the Take It Back candidate in Chestermere—Strathmore.

Terry Nicholls (Independent) — Nicholls ran as an independent candidate in Chestermere—Strathmore.

Jed Laboucane (Social Movement) — Laboucane ran as the Social Movement candidate in Chestermere—Strathmore.

Local Issues

Chestermere's municipal governance was a significant concern heading into the 2023 election. A provincial inspection in 2022 found mismanagement including legislative infractions, blurred lines of authority between politicians and administrators, significant staff turnover, and allegations of bullying. The province issued 12 binding directives to the city in March 2023, and the broader turmoil raised questions about the adequacy of municipal oversight.

Transportation infrastructure remained a pressing concern for commuters. Traffic congestion on Highway 1 between Chestermere and Calgary, and on Highway 791, worsened as the population grew, and residents called for interchange upgrades and transit connections. School capacity was another growth-related challenge, with new subdivisions outpacing the construction of schools.

The political dynamic in the riding shifted notably from 2019. Aheer's departure and the contested takeover of her constituency association board reflected internal UCP tensions between moderates who had supported her and those aligned with Smith's leadership. Aheer, a prominent voice who had been demoted from cabinet after publicly criticizing Kenney, did not seek re-election. The transition to the newcomer De Jonge illustrated the party's shift under Smith.