While the timing for the next federal election has been debated since Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his intention to step down, Prime Minister Mark Carney set a date.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has been on the job for less than two weeks, and did not have a seat in Parliament, on Sunday asked that Parliament be dissolved and called an election for April 28.
While it has only been a couple of months, election fortunes appear to have changed. Since 2022 the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) had the edge in the polls. By 2024 it has been showing a double-digit lead over the incumbent Liberal party.
Today, it is neck and neck.
While according to Elections Canada, in Battle River-Crowfoot no candidate has formally been confirmed, Incumbent Damien Kurek is already on the campaign trail. Social media showed him posting signs with his sons on Sunday.
Kurek was first elected in 2019, succeeding Kevin Sorenson, and won again in 2021. Up until Parliament was dissolved he was a Member of the Canada-China Relations Committee, the Canadian Heritage Committee and a member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
A quick search of the Liberal and NDP websites showed no listings for candidates for this riding. The People’s Party of Canada‘s website shows Jonathan Bridges as its candidate for Battle River Crowfoot.
A truck and trailer mechanic by trade, Bridges hails from Linden. In the 2021 election, he ran as the candidate for the People’s Party in the Bow River Riding. However, since then the electoral boundaries have changed.
The Bow River Riding, regardless of the outcome, will have a new Member of Parliament. Former MP Martin Shields resigned from his position, and in a contested nomination, David Bexte was named the candidate for the CPC.
The Arrowood resident is a farmer and the former vice president of an oilfield service company. His first policy priority is designating the family farm as a strategic national asset.
So far the Mail has not identified any candidates from the Bow River Riding representing any of the other major parties.

The Town of Drumheller is calling a Special Meeting of Council on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 4:00 PM to address the unexpected announcement that the Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce will be decommissioning Tyra, the World’s Largest Dinosaur (WLD)—one of the community’s most beloved landmarks.
The Chamber has notified the Town that its lease on the building will conclude in December 2029 and has indicated it will not seek renewal. Under the lease agreement, the Chamber is the sole owner of the WLD and is responsible for its construction, maintenance, operations, and any future decisions regarding its decommissioning.
“This news came as a shock, as the Town was not made aware of this decision until it was publicly announced last night at the Chamber of Commerce’s Annual General Meeting,” said Mayor Heather Colberg. “Given the significance of the World’s Largest Dinosaur to our community and tourism industry, we will be holding a Special Meeting of Council to discuss the impacts of this decision and explore next steps.”
The Drumheller Valley remains a world-class tourism destination with several tourism attractions that support businesses in the valley. The Town, alongside Travel Drumheller, will continue to promote and support local tourism initiatives, ensuring that the Valley remains a premier attraction for visitors from around the world.
The majority of this meeting will be held in-camera, with a motion coming from Council as a result.
Town of Drumheller Communications