PRESS RELEASE
Contact Kerry George VP of Communications - A Better Calgary Party [email protected] 403-397-1909
A Better Calgary Party Receives Official Certification, now with 13 Ward
Associations, 7 Council Candidates & over 2,000 Members
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Wednesday, March 26, 2025
(Calgary) A Better Calgary Party (ABC Party) is pleased to announce it has been officially certified by Elections Calgary as a municipal political party, with Council candidates now confirmed in 7 of Calgary’s 14 Wards for this fall’s municipal election.
“Though we were the third (3rd ) group to be officially registered,” said Gordon Elliott, President of the ABC Party, “we were first (1st ) to publicly launch, and are the only party to hold a Founding Convention where members voted to create a Party and elect their Board of Directors. We are proud to be the only real political party in Calgary — offering our members a voice and a vote.” Elliott continued, “With due respect, the other two so-called ‘parties’ are better described as ‘slates’ — their candidates are either self-appointed or chosen by undisclosed interests. That’s disappointing, especially given the intent of Premier Smith’s legislation (Bill 20) to empower citizens through membership-driven political parties.” The goal of the ABC, now with over 2,000 Members, has always been to ensure the ‘centre- right’ candidates for Mayor and for Council do not split the vote. “The whole purpose of ABC has always been to prevent a repeat of what happened in the last election — where radical, left-leaning, special-interest candidates, like those backed by Calgary’s Future, gained control,” stated Roy Beyer, newly appointed Executive Director of A Better Calgary Party. “We must work together to stop organizations like Calgary’s Future, which have demonstrated an ability to unite and win.”
Key ABC Milestones:
ABC Party officially launched on June 19, 2024, at an event attended by over 300
Calgarians, representing dozens of civic and advocacy organizations. The Party announced its plans to build a ‘big tent’, membership-driven coalition and to empower members to choose the best centre-right candidates to run for Mayor and Council for each of Calgary’s 14 Wards.
- July 2024 – Ward ‘Meet and Greet’ events drew nearly 30 prospective candidates from across the city.
- August 2024 – Ward formation meetings held; members elected Presidents and Boards of Directors for 13 of 14 Ward Associations.
- October 17, 2024 – Founding Convention where Members approved the Party’s Constitution and Bylaws and elected the Party’s Board of Directors.
Moving Forward:
“Today marks another major milestone,” said Gordon Elliott. “Our success required a high level of determination, especially after unanticipated regulations were announced just hours before our Founding Convention.”
New regulations announced by Alberta Municipal Affairs required ABC Party to suspend its bank account, halt all spending and fundraising, even to pause membership sales until certain thresholds were met to achieve registration as a Party.
“These unexpected regulations delayed our nomination process by several months,” Elliott noted. “But we’ve come through stronger and more committed than ever to our core principle: building a party that gives its members a genuine voice and a real vote.”
Beyer concluded, “Now that we’re officially registered, we’re excited to re-engage with Calgarians. We also anticipate a good number of grassroots candidates stepping forward in our nomination races — individuals ready to demonstrate their commitment, to earn community support, to represent the ABC Party as candidates in their Wards, and potentially as well, an ABC candidate for Mayor.”
Website: www.abettercalgaryparty.ca
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Abc VP Communications
