Kang closes in on Calgary Skyview
As results trickled in Monday night, Liberals were edging Tories out
The Liberals haven’t won a seat in Calgary in nearly half a century but former two- term MLA Darshan Kang believes that’s about to change.
Kang, the Liberal candidate for Calgary Skyview, appeared on his way to defeating Conservative incumbent Devinder Shory as election results trickled in Monday night.
“I’m feeling great,” said Kang at his campaign headquarters on Monday evening. “I’m hoping for the best. I’m very, very optimistic.”
More than 100 people gathered at Kang’s tiny northeast campaign office and packed an adjacent tent outside to watch results come in.
The lively crowd shouted, clapped and cheered when television screens showed the Liberals leading nationally but Kang said time would tell what would happen locally.
“We’re expecting a tight race tonight. We’re not taking anything for granted,” Kang said.
By 10: 15 p. m., Kang had taken a clear lead in the polls, with Shory trailing in second place, though no clear winner had yet been declared.
Nearby, at Shory’s strip mall campaign headquarters, the Tory hopeful was nowhere to be seen as a handful of people sat in a quiet room and watched results trickle in.
Shory was not available to speak to media but earlier in the evening he told the Herald he was optimistic. “We’ve been working very hard for the last two months and I’m very happy and very proud of my team,” he said.
“I’ve had a very positive relationship with my constituents for the last seven years.”
Shory said he repeatedly heard at doorsteps that people were concerned about the economy and the “safety and security of Canada.”
Located in the city’s northeast, Calgary Skyview was labelled a potential battleground when the election campaign launched 11 weeks ago. In recent weeks, political scientists have said they believe the diverse riding could tip to the Grits.
More than 2,000 people showed up to a raucous rally hosted by Liberal leader Justin Trudeau in Calgary Skyview on the final day of campaigning Sunday.
Calgary Skyview is home to more than 11,000 residents and is one of the most ethnically diverse ridings in Alberta. It’s a new riding, created through redistribution, and replaces the Calgary Northeast constituency.
Shory, 58, won the former Calgary Northeast riding with 56 per cent of the vote in the 2011 election. The two- term MP worked as a lawyer before he was first elected in the 2008 federal election.
Kang served part of the riding as a provincial Liberal MLA in the constituency of Calgary- McCall, but opted not to run for re- election in the May provincial election, instead stepping aside to run federally for the Grits.
Eight candidates vied to represent voters in Calgary Skyview.
Sahajvir Singh, 34, owns a land investment company and ran for the NDP, while Ed Reddy, 45, a former soldier who now works as an oilpatch consultant ran for the Green party.
Realtor Najeeb Butt, 59, ran for the Progressive Canadian Party and Daniel Blanchard, 28, ran for the Marxist- Leninist Party.
Independent candidate Joseph Young, 68, a member of the Communist League in Canada, and Democratic Advancement Party Leader Stephen Garvey, 50, also ran in Calgary Skyview.