2021 Edmonton municipal election explained

Election Name:	2021 Edmonton municipal election
Country:	Alberta
Type:	legislative
Previous Election:	2017 Edmonton municipal election
Previous Year:	2017
Next Election:	2025 Edmonton municipal election
Next Year:	2025
Seats For Election:	Mayor and 12 councillors to Edmonton City Council
Election Date:	October 18, 2021
Color1:	ffc629
Candidate1:	Amarjeet Sohi
Popular Vote1:	105,683
Percentage1:	45.05%
Color2:	005f8f
Candidate2:	Mike Nickel
Popular Vote2:	59,309
Percentage2:	25.28%
Color4:	061e39
Candidate4:	Kim Krushell
Popular Vote4:	40,513
Percentage4:	17.27%
Color5:	00D19C
Candidate5:	Michael Oshry
Popular Vote5:	14,500
Percentage5:	6.18%
Mayor
Before Election:	Don Iveson
After Election:	Amarjeet Sohi
Ongoing:	no
Turnout:	37.6% (6.6 pp)

The 2021 Edmonton municipal election was held on October 18, 2021, to elect a mayor and 12 councillors to the Edmonton city council, nine trustees to Edmonton Public Schools, and seven trustees to the Edmonton Catholic Schools. It was held in conjunction with the 2021 Alberta municipal elections.

In conjunction with the municipal elections, residents voted in a provincially mandated Senate nominee election, a referendum on equalization and on whether to adopt permanent daylight saving time.

Incumbent mayor Don Iveson announced in November 2020 that he would not be seeking re-election.^[1]

Mayor and councillors were elected through first-past-the-post voting in single-member wards.

The total number of votes cast for mayor was 236,488.^[2]

Candidates

X = incumbent.Candidates as listed have filed the necessary paperwork with the City of Edmonton.^[3]

Mayor

Candidate	Vote^[4]	%
Amarjeet Sohi^[5]	105,683	45.05
Mike Nickel^[6]	59,309	25.28
Kim Krushell^[7]	40,513	17.27
Michael Oshry^[8]	14,500	6.18
Cheryll Watson	6,803	2.9
Rick Comrie	1,752	0.75
Diana Steele	1,741	0.74
Abdul Malik Chukwudi	1,368	0.58
Brian (Breezy) Gregg	1,344	0.57
Vanessa Denman	907	0.39
Augustine Marah^[9]	671	0.29

Abdul Malik Chukwudi – engineer
Rick Comrie – business owner
Brian (Breezy) Gregg – retired music artist
Kim Krushell – former councillor
Augustine Marah – teacher and community activist
Mike Nickel – incumbent ward 11 councillor
Michael Oshry – former councillor
Amarjeet Sohi – former councillor and MP
Diana Steele – President of Crestwood Community League
Cheryll Watson – Former Head of Innovate Edmonton

Council

The following is a list of candidates that announced their candidacy for the 2021 election.^[10] Edmonton's ward map was redrawn for the 2021 election, with each ward being given an Indigenous name.^[11]

Each ward elected one councillor through First-past-the-post voting.

The total number of candidates for council seats was larger than in any previous election in Edmonton history, even beating the record set in the 1964 Edmonton municipal election.

Nakota Isga

(Rosenthal, West Jasper Place, Big Lake, Westview Village, Lewis Farms, Glenora)

Candidate	Vote	%
Andrew Knack (X)	12,107	66.15
Dave Olivier	3,288	17.96
Steve Weston	2,908	15.89

Andrew Knack – incumbent
Dave Olivier – businessman
Steve Weston – construction manager

Anirniq

(Calder, the Pallisades, Griesbach, Athlone, Wellington, Lauderdale, Rosslyn, Kensington, Carlisle, Cumberland, Sherbrooke, Inglewood, Woodcroft, Dovercourt, Prince Charles, Albany)

Candidate	Vote	%
Erin Rutherford	4,689	26.14
Bev Esslinger (X)	4,423	24.66
Tyler Zutz	3,949	22.01
Ali Haymour	3,593	20.03
Mark Davies	1,285	7.16

^[12]

Mark Davies – risk management director
Bev Esslinger – incumbent
Ali Haymour – finished third in the 2017 Ward 2 race
Erin Rutherford – public sector manager
Tyler Zutz – business consultant

tastawiyiniwak

(Castle Downs, Dickinsfield, Londonderry, Lake District)

Candidate	Vote	%
Karen Principe	6,861	38.90
Jon Dziadyk (X)	5,391	30.57
	2,689	15.25
Cody Bondarchuk	2,368	13.43
Zain Hafiz	179	1.01
Iannie Gerona	148	0.84

Ahmed "Knowmadic" Ali – poet
Cody Bondarchuk – community leader
Jon Dziadyk – incumbent
Iannie Gerona – shopkeeper
Zain Hafiz – business owner
Karen Principe – finished third in the 2017 Ward 3 race

Dene

(Casselman-Steele Heights, Clareview, Hermitage, Horse Hill, Pilot Sound)

Candidate	Vote	%
Aaron Paquette (X)	8,240	53.62
Tricia Velthuizen	3,358	21.85
Lana Palmer	2,507	16.31
Andy Andrzej Gudanowski	637	4.14
Gerard Mutabazi Amani	626	4.07

Gerard Mutabazi Amani – community leader
Andy Andrzej Gudanowski – finished sixth in the 2017 Ward 7 race
Aaron Paquette – incumbent
Lana Palmer – oral surgeon
Tricia Velthuizen – spokesperson for Service Alberta Minister Nate Glubish, finished fourth in the 2017 Ward 4 race^[13]

O-day’min

(Riverview Area, Edgemont, Stillwater, Uplands, River's Edge, Glastonbury, Granville, Hamptons, Lymnurn, Ormsby Place, Dechene, Downtown, Callingwood North/South, Elmwood, Lynnwood, Patricia Heights, Quesnell, Oleskiew, Thorncliff, Westringe, Cameron, Jamieson Place, Wedgewood, Donsdale, Gariepy, Lessard North)

Candidate	Vote	%
Anne Stevenson	4,026	26.71
Gabrielle Battiste	2,993	19.86
Adrian Bruff	2,706	17.95
Joshua Wolchansky	1,808	11.99
Tony Caterina (X)	1,556	10.32
Gino Akbari	1,216	8.07
Mohammed Migdaddy	307	2.04
Naima Haile	240	1.59
Ibrahim Wado	128	0.85
Adil Pirbhai	93	0.62

Gino Akbari – entrepreneur
Gabrielle Battiste – lawyer
Adrian Bruff – entrepreneur
Tony Caterina – incumbent
Naima Haile – curator
Mohammed Migdaddy – clinical pharmacist
Adil Pirbhai – finished fourth in the 2017 Ward 6 race
Anne Stevenson – urban planner
Ibrahim Wado
Joshua Wolchansky – civil servant

Métis

(Abbottsfield, Alberta Avenue, Avonmore, Beacon Heights, Bellevue, Bergman, Beverly Heights, Bonnie Doon, Capilano, Cloverdale, Cromdale, Delton, Eastwood, Elmwood Park, Forest Heights, Fulton Place, Gold Bar, Highlands, Holyrood, Idylwylde, Kenilworth, King Edward Park, Montrose, Newton, Ottewell, Parkdale, Rundle Heights, Strathearn, Terrace Heights, Virginia Park)^[14]

Candidate	Vote	%
Ashley Salvador	8,316	34.46
Caroline Matthews	5,357	22.20
Cori Longo	4,367	18.09
James Kosowan	1,790	7.42
Steven Townsend	1,424	5.90
Liz John-West	1,382	5.73
Rob Bernshaw	555	2.30
Brian Kendrick	332	1.38
Salar Melli	190	0.79
Abdulhakim Dalel	157	0.65
Daniel John Kornak	147	0.61
Jim Rickett	118	0.49

Rob Bernshaw – finished third in the 2013 Ward 3 race
Abdulhakim Dalel – political activist
Liz John-West – finished fourth in the 2017 Ward 7 race
Brian Kendrick – finished third in the 2010 Ward 5 race
Daniel John Kornak – political activist
James Kosowan – finished third in the 2017 Ward 8 race
Cori Longo – postal worker
Caroline Matthews – entrepreneur
Salar Melli – entrepreneur
Jim Rickett – Telus operations manager
Ashley Salvador – entrepreneur
Steven Townsend – entrepreneur

sipiwiyiniwak

(The Grange, Riverview, Cameron Heights, Laurier Heights, Edgemont)

Candidate	Vote	%
Sarah Hamilton (X)	10,227	44.22
Giselle General	5,180	22.40
Derek Hlady	4,380	18.94
Daniel Heikkinen	2,291	9.91
Scott Hayes	1,050	4.54

Giselle General – public servant
Sarah Hamilton – incumbent
Scott Hayes – realtor
Daniel Heikkinen – entrepreneur
Derek Hlady – entrepreneur

papastew

(Belgravia, Strathcona, Ritchie, Grandview, Allendale, Pleasantview, Aspen Gardens, Greenfield, Duggan)

Candidate	Vote	%
Michael Janz	8,614	40.58
Susan Field	4,354	20.51
Kirsten Goa	4,089	19.27
Haruun Ali	1,713	8.07
James Cameron	1,384	6.52
Tarcy Schindelka	630	2.97
Byron Vass	441	2.08

Haruun Ali – university student
James Cameron – businessman
Susan Field – businesswoman
Kirsten Goa – finished second in the 2017 Ward 8 race
Michael Janz – former public school trustee of Ward F
Tarcy Schindelka – businessman
Byron Vass – environmental sector

pihêsiwin

(Riverbend, Terwillegar Heights, Windermere, Magrath Heights, Mactaggart)

Candidate	Vote	%
Tim Cartmell (X)	16,252	81.24
Guiscela Perez Arellano	3,754	18.76

Guiscela Perez Arellano – IT
Tim Cartmell – incumbent

Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi

(Kaskitayo:Blue Quill, Ermineskin, Keheewin, Twinbrooks; Heritage Valley:Blackburne, Rutherford, Graydon Hill, Chappelle, Allard)

Candidate	Vote	%
Jennifer Rice	5,831	32.40
	5,792	32.18
Scott Johnston^[15]	2,103	11.68
Glynnis Andrea Lieb	1,760	9.78
Jon Morgan	1,727	9.60
Jason Carter	785	4.36

Jason Carter – Indigenous artist
Rhiannon Hoyle – entrepreneur
Scott Johnston – radio reporter
Glynnis Andrea Lieb – social psychologist
Jon Morgan – community leader
Jennifer Rice – public servant

Karhiio

(Ellerslie, Knottwood, Lakewood, Mill Woods Town Centre, Millbourne, Millhurst, Woodvale, Summerside, Southeast Edmonton)

Candidate	Vote	%
Keren Tang	7,459	39.72
Tom Shaw	5,682	30.26
Shamair Turner	2,314	12.32
Charan Saggu	1,667	8.88
Sana Kakar	1,341	7.14
Muhammad Herman Gill	315	1.68

Muhammad Herman Gill – businessman
Sana Kakar – architect
Charan Saggu – businessman
Tom Shaw – project manager
Keren Tang – finished second in the 2017 Ward 11 race
Shamair Turner – insurance broker

Sspomitapi

(Decoteau, The Meadows, Burnewood, Ridgewood, Southwood, Maple Ridge)

Candidate	Vote	%
Jo-Anne Wright	5,860	34.45
Harman Singh Kandola	4,624	27.18
Moe Banga (X)	4,054	23.83
Sanjay Malhotra	810	4.76
Jasbir Singh Gill	802	4.71
Rashpal Sehmby	608	3.57
Mukesh Makwana	252	1.48

Moe Banga – incumbent
Jasbir Singh Gill – President of Edmonton Taxi Association
Harman Singh Kandola – lawyer
Mukesh Makwana – welder
Sanjay Malhotra – businessman
Rashpal Sehmby – postal worker
Jo-Anne Wright – finished second in the 2013 Ward 12 race

Edmonton Public School Board Trustees

Nine elected, one per ward through first past the post.

Candidate	Votes	%
Ward A
Perry Chahal	1,959	13.21
Sherri O'Keefe^[16]	6,571	44.32
Everline Atieno Oloo	632	4.26
Sheeraz Rahman	1,678	11.32
Belen Samuel	3,987	26.89
Ward B
Dakota Drouillard	1,851	13.36
Esther Ekpe Adewuyi	2,170	15.66
Keltie Marshall	4,384	31.65
Marsha Nelson	5,448	39.33
Ward C
Kassie Burkholder	3,736	21.64
David Dougherty	2,618	15.17
Leticia Gomez	1,981	11.48
Marcia Hole	7,099	41.12
Lisa Shefsky	1,829	10.59
Ward D
Trisha Estabrooks (X)	17,465	74.25
Jen Martin	6,056	25.75
Ward E
Sam Filice	3,813	22.59
Rebecca Graff-McRae	3,673	21.76
Dawn Hancock	4,598	27.24
Judy Kim-Meneen	3,396	20.12
Kim Doyle Thorsen	1,398	8.28
Ward F
Nancy Hunt	5,772	22.81
Julie Kusiek	9,597	37.92
Ken Lister	7,950	31.41
Kimberley McMann	1,989	7.86
Ward G
Guri Dhaliwal	3,445	15.95
Hannah Hamilton	4,981	23.06
Angela MacLaggan	3,330	15.42
Saadiq Sumar	5,432	25.15
Heather D. Swain	3,844	17.79
Inderjeet Kaur Tuli	570	2.64
Ward H
William John Haines	3,754	26.67
Nathan Ip (X)	10,325	73.33
Ward I
Ricardo Casanova	780	6.36
Taranvir Singh Dhanoa	1,445	11.77
Navjot Kaur	1,212	9.88
Emily MacKenzie	2,791	22.74
Corrine Rondeau	976	7.95
Jan Sawyer	3,940	32.11
Simran Villing	1,128	9.19

Ip, the elected trustee for Ward H, was elected MLA in the 2023 provincial election. He resigned as trusteethe school board voted not to hold a by-election but to have trustee Jan Sawyer cover his ward as well as her own.^[17]

Edmonton Catholic School Board Trustees

Candidate	Votes	%
Ward 71
Terrence (Terry) Harris (X)	Acclaimed
Ward 72
Sandra Palazzo (X)	Acclaimed
Ward 73
Carla Smiley (X)	Acclaimed
Ward 74
Debbie Engel (X)	Acclaimed
Ward 75
Alene Mutala (X)	Acclaimed
Ward 76
Lisa Turchansky (X)	Acclaimed
Ward 77
Kara Pelech	2,514	32.72%
Laura Thibert (X)	5,170	67.28%

Carla Smiley resigned from the position in October 2021. As of July 2023, the Catholic School Board was refusing to hold a by-election.^[18]

Mayoral opinion polling

Polling firm	Date	Rick Comrie	Kim Krushell	Mike Nickel	Michael Oshry	Amarjeet Sohi	Cheryll Watson	Other	Sample size	Polling method	Lead
Leger	October 11, 2021	–	12%	16%	6%	34%	5%	Undecided 20%, Other 4%	503	online	18%
Spadina Strategies	October 11, 2021	–	14.9%	26.4%	8.9%	32.3%	3.5%	Undecided 14.0%	529	IVR	5.9%
Leger	July 26, 2021	2%	5%	10%	3%	29%	2%	Undecided 43%, Abdul Malik Chukwudi 1%, Diana Steele 1%	458	online	10%
Mainstreet Research	January 18, 2021	–	7.2%	11%	–	–	4.9%	Undecided 62%, Andrew Knack 8.4%, Other 6.4%	1,113	online

Notes and References

Web site: Ramsay. Caley. January 4, 2021. Nominations for 2021 Edmonton municipal election now open. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210104204800/https://globalnews.ca/news/7554330/edmonton-election-2021-nomination-process-open/ . 2021-01-04 . 2021-01-24. Global News.
https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/assets/PDF/2021%20Edmonton%20Election%20-%20Official%20Results%20-%20Mayor.pdf Official results
Web site: For Voters. live. September 21, 2021. City of Edmonton. https://web.archive.org/web/20210625093107/https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/municipal_elections/for-voters . 2021-06-25 .
Web site: 2021 Edmonton Election – Official Results – Mayor. 2021-10-24. www.edmonton.ca.
Web site: Bourne. Kirby. Ramsay. Caley. 2021-05-17. Former councillor, MP Amarjeet Sohi announces Edmonton mayoral campaign. live. 2021-06-05. Global News. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210517162131/https://globalnews.ca/news/7856077/amarjeet-sohi-edmonton-mayor-campaign/ . 2021-05-17 .
Web site: Edmonton city councillor Mike Nickel running for mayor in 2021 election. 2021-01-24. Global News. en-CA. Ramsay. Caley. January 22, 2021.
Web site: Former Edmonton councillor Kim Krushell running for mayor in fall election. January 27, 2021. Global News. en-CA. Ramsay. Caley.
Web site: 2021-02-11. Oshry joins Edmonton mayoral race, becoming third candidate with council experience. 2021-02-20. CTV News. Edmonton. en. Amato. Sean.
Web site: Lachacz. Adam. 2021-05-20. Edmonton teacher and community activist Augustine Marah runs for mayor. live. 2021-06-11. CTV News Edmonton. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521010838/https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/edmonton-teacher-and-community-activist-augustine-marah-runs-for-mayor-1.5436933 . 2021-05-21 .
Web site: Edmonton Election 2021 – daveberta.ca – Alberta Politics. 2021-03-30. en-US.
Web site: Indigenous Ward Naming Knowledge Committee | City of Edmonton. www.edmonton.ca. 6 August 2023.
Web site: Edmonton elections. edmonton.ca. 20 March 2023.
Web site: Amato. Sean. 2021-02-18. UCP press secretary to keep job while running for Edmonton City Council seat. 2021-02-20. CTV News. Edmonton. en.
https://www.ashleysalvador.com/ward-metis Communities in Ward Métis
Web site: Amato. Sean. 2021-02-18. Longtime City Hall reporter seeking seat on Edmonton City Council. 2021-02-20. Edmonton. CTV News. en.
Web site: Unofficial 2021 Election Results. City of Edmonton. 2021-10-19. 2021-10-19.
Web site: Edmonton Public School Board to leave chair vacant after trustee becomes Alberta MLA | Watch News Videos Online. Global News. 6 August 2023.
Web site: Parents demand byelection to replace school board trustees in Edmonton, Calgary | Globalnews.ca. Global News. 6 August 2023.