BOW VALLEY – Canadians will head to the polls across the country today.
A record high voter turnout for advanced polling had more than 7.28 million people cast a ballot ahead of the April 28 date, which was about 1.4 million more than the 2021 federal election, which had 5.8 million people vote in advance. Of those, 815,131 were from Alberta.
In the Yellowhead riding, Elections Canada announced that 27,666 eligible voters took advantage of the early ability to head to the polls.
338Canada, an independent company that does polling and electoral projections, projects the Yellowhead riding to be a safe Conservative victory.
In the new Yellowhead riding, five people put their names forward in competing for the geographically diverse area that stretches from Grande Cache in the north to Banff and Canmore in the south and Carstairs in the east. With no incumbent being up for the MP's role, it leaves an open playing field in what is expected to be a Conservative Party stronghold.
The first person to come forward was longtime Canmore resident Avni Soma for the NDP, who was followed by William Stevenon of Carstairs for the Conservative Party and Jasper's Michael Fark for the Liberal Party. Dale Heath of Canmore stepped forward for the Christian Heritage Party of Canada and Vicky Bayford of Innisfail was named as the People's Party of Canada candidate.
In the Bow Valley, a pair of candidate debates took place. The first was in Banff on April 15, followed by one in Canmore on April 18, with each having well over 100 people attend. Throughout the diverse riding, roughly a dozen candidate forums have been organized.
Here's a look at past articles from the Outlook during the election and from the new riding being created.
ARTICLES ON FEDERAL ELECTION YELLOWHEAD RIDING
- Jan. 9, 2025: Longtime Canmore resident named NDP candidate for Yellowhead federal riding
- Feb. 19, 2025: Yellowhead riding’s Conservative candidate speaks about diverse needs of massive riding
- March 17, 2025: EDITORIAL: Federal Liberal leadership race could be final card before early election
- March 31, 2025: Liberal candidate for Yellowhead advocates for unity as Canada faces 'high stakes'
- April 16, 2025: Liberal candidate voices concern over his party's call for free entry to Banff National Park this summer
- April 24, 2025: FEDERAL ELECTION 2025: Tourism as a priority: what our federal candidates have to say
- April 24, 2025: FEDERAL ELECTION 2025: Wildfire threats to the Bow Valley: what our federal candidates have to say
- April 24, 2025: FEDERAL ELECTION 2025: Wildlife corridors critical: what our federal candidates have to say
- April 25, 2025: FEDERAL ELECTION 2025: Conservatives forecasted to win Yellowhead, but political scientist warns of 'complex election'
- April 25, 2025: FEDERAL ELECTION 2025: Arts and culture spending: what our federal candidates have to say
- April 25, 2025: FEDERAL ELECTION 2025: Housing concerns in the Bow Valley: what our federal election candidates have to say
- April 28, 2025: EDITORIAL: Diverse concerns of Yellowhead federal riding need to be represented
YELLOWHEAD RIDING CREATION
- July 6, 2022: Surprise over federal riding redistribution proposal
- Feb. 13, 2023: Banff, Canmore staying together in new federal riding proposal
- Aug. 3, 2023: Banff, Canmore, Jasper to form Yellowhead federal riding
