If you live in Calgary’s Ward 5, the 2025 election is your chance to choose who will shape your community’s future. Ward 5 is one of the city’s fastest-growing areas, with diverse neighborhoods facing unique challenges. Understanding the candidates running in this race helps you decide who can best represent your interests and priorities.
Who Are the Ward 5 Candidates in 2025?
Several candidates are competing for the councillor role in Ward 5. Each brings different backgrounds and ideas to address local issues like housing, transit, safety, and infrastructure.
Raj Dhaliwal (Incumbent, Independent)
Raj Dhaliwal has served as your councillor since 2021. Before politics, he was a chemical engineer and project manager in the oil and gas sector. Raj cites accomplishments such as the Cornerstone Fire Station project and widening Country Hills Boulevard. His campaign focuses on managing rapid growth with smart planning, affordable housing, better transit, safer neighborhoods, and community amenities. Raj pledges to keep working on real results that move Ward 5 forward.
Gurpreet Dhillon (The Calgary Party)
With over a decade in law enforcement, Gurpreet Dhillon aims to improve public safety. He’s campaigned on practical, community-driven solutions emphasizing crime prevention, stronger enforcement, and ensuring new developments receive adequate resources like transit and schools.
Tariq Khan (Independent)
A local realtor and former multiculturalism panel member, Tariq Khan targets efficient city spending. He opposes costly projects that don’t benefit residents and advocates for free Calgary Transit passes for seniors and youth. Khan also focuses on holding government accountable so your tax dollars stretch further.
Harneet (Reet) Mushiana (Independent)
Harneet has deep ties to the community through her family business and personal experiences. After personal loss, she founded a support foundation and runs on equal access to city investments. Her priorities include transit improvements, affordable housing, and public safety to ensure Ward 5 residents share in the city’s growth.
Jigar Patel (Independent)
Jigar Patel highlights fair infrastructure investment and government transparency. Born outside Canada, he draws on immigrant experiences to fight for small businesses and equitable services in northeast Calgary.
Harinder (Harry) Singh Purba (Independent)
An engineer and community advocate, Purba raises concerns about one-size-fits-all rezoning. He calls for smart growth with proper infrastructure and transit. Purba stresses the need to improve public safety, cleanliness, and support hail-resistant building materials to protect homes.
Aryan Sadat (Independent)
Aryan Sadat, a lawyer, points to years of service neglect, rising crime, and tax burdens. Sadat wants data-driven decisions to fix municipal issues, improve infrastructure, and restore fairness for Ward 5 residents.
Josie Kirkpatrick (Independent)
A realtor and schoolteacher, Kirkpatrick opposes blanket rezoning that favors developers over residents. She plans to enhance park upkeep, transit safety, and adopt fiscal responsibility at City Hall.
Nathaniel Schmidt (Independent)
A defense lawyer and former musician, Schmidt stands for affordability, housing access, downtown revitalization, and stronger local governance.
What Are the Main Priorities in the Ward 5 Election?
Residents consistently mention issues on transit reliability, housing affordability, and increasing safety concerns. Many families feel the pressure of rising living costs and want their neighborhoods better served by City Hall.
Candidates propose:
- Smart Growth: Balanced development with community input, ensuring new housing comes with transit, schools, and parks.
- Transit Improvements: More frequent, reliable service and expanded routes to connect residents with jobs and amenities.
- Public Safety: Crime prevention programs, better enforcement, and neighborhood-focused policing.
- Affordable Housing: Initiatives to provide housing options for families and seniors without pushing rent and prices higher.
- Government Accountability: Efficient use of tax dollars and transparent communication with residents.
These priorities show candidates want to meet your needs while planning for Ward 5’s rapid growth.
Why Your Vote in Ward 5 Matters
Ward 5 is one of Calgary’s most diverse and fastest-growing areas. The right councilor can guide this growth smartly, ensuring your voice is heard in decisions shaping schools, roads, transit, and safety. Your vote here shapes how responsive and effective local government will be in the next four years.
Choosing a candidate who understands your community’s realities and will fight for practical solutions is essential. Watch for candidates’ plans on key issues and how they engage with residents actions that demonstrate accountability and results.
Support You Can Trust in Ward 5
Raj Dhaliwal’s leadership reflects an informed and steady hand for Ward 5. His focus on real achievements, from infrastructure to community services, makes him a candidate committed to progress and practical outcomes. In this election, your choice can keep Ward 5 moving forward with growth that works for everyone.
Making an Informed Decision
As the election approaches, take time to:
- Attend candidate forums or watch debates.
- Review campaign materials and official platforms.
- Discuss concerns with neighbors and local groups.
- Understand what each candidate offers for Ward 5.
Your informed vote ensures that next steps in Calgary’s development reflect the needs and hopes of the community you call home.
This guide brings clarity to the Ward 5 candidate 2025 race. It helps you see the people running and what they stand for. By focusing on shared priorities, you can choose wisely and influence the direction of your community today and beyond.