# 2021 Edmonton municipal election

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.
Mayor was elected through first-past-the-post voting in at-large contest. Councillors and school board trustees were elected through first-past-the-post voting in single-member wards.
Successful candidates do not need to have majority support of the voters in their district. The successful mayoral candidate and nine of the 12 successful ward councillors were elected with less than majority of votes in their districts. Over all the 12 wards, of the more than 210,000 votes cast for councillor candidates, 99,000 voters saw their choice elected.
The total number of votes cast for mayor was 236,488.

## Candidates

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

### Mayor

| Candidate | Vote | % |
| Amarjeet Sohi | 105,683 | 45.05 |
| Mike Nickel | 59,309 | 25.28 |
| Kim Krushell | 40,513 | 17.27 |
| Michael Oshry | 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 | 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. Edmonton's ward map was redrawn for the 2021 election, with each ward being given an Indigenous name.
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 |
* 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 |
| Ahmed "Knowmadic" Ali | 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

#### 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)
| 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 |
| Rhiannon Hoyle | 5,792 | 32.18 |
| Scott Johnston | 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 | 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 trustee – the school board voted not to hold a by-election but to have trustee Jan Sawyer cover his ward as well as her own.

### 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.

## 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 Archived 2021-08-03 at the Wayback Machine | 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 | 2.6% |