Calgary West

This is a primarily residential riding running in a strip along the western edge of the city. It is bounded by the western city limits, Crowchild Trail Northwest, Bow Trail Southwest, Sarcee Trail Southwest and Glenmore Trail Southwest. The Bow River divides the riding into northern and southern portions.

Twenty-one per cent of the residents are immigrants. There are large German, Ukrainian and Polish communities. English is the mother tongue of 78 percent of the population, with francophones making up less than two per cent. Forty-three per cent of those over age 25 have a university certificate or degree.

The service sector and retail trade are major employers, as is mining and oil and gas extraction. The 2006 census shows an average family income of $143,641 – the second-highest in the province – and an unemployment rate of 4.2 per cent.

Calgary West was established in 1914 but abolished in 1952. It was re-established in 1976. In the 2004 redistribution, about 30 per cent of the riding was removed, while 6,350 people were added from Calgary Centre and 4,500 from Macleod.

Population: 132,162 (2006 census; an increase of 27.2% since 2001)

Political History

For the past four terms, Rob Anders has represented this riding. He came to office with the Reform party in 1997, defeating Liberal Dave Bronconnier. Then, in 2000, he beat Tory Jim Silye, formerly a Reform Party MP, by 19,963 votes. In 2004, he beat Liberal Justin Thompson by 14,920 votes. In the 2006 election, Anders defeated Liberal Jennifer Polluck to secure his seat again for the Conservatives.

Before Anders, this was the riding of current Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper gained office in 1993. In the previous election, he suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of Tory Jim Hawkes, who had held the riding since 1979.

• 1979-88 inclusive - PC
• 1993, 1997 - REF
• 2000 - CA
• 2004, 2006 - CON