Edmonton Strathcona (Alberta) 95/338

 Edmonton Strathcona (Alberta)

Today we're in south-central Edmonton with Edmonton Strathcona!

Edmonton Strathcona has existed as a riding since 1953. The population of the riding was 106,066 in 2016. The riding contains the neighbourhoods of Strathcona, Queen Alexandra, and Riverdale. While most ridings in Edmonton are on either side of the North Saskatchewan River, this riding has a small portion across the river in Riverdale.

Politically, this seat has recently become the safest NDP seat in the country. In 2021, Heather McPherson won this seat with over 60% support, something that hadn't been done anywhere since 2011. What makes this seat so NDP friendly? While the median age is on average with the city, 32% of the riding is between 20-34 while that number is only 25.7% in the rest of the city. A lot of the NDP support is concentrated in the Strathcona neighbourhood. The riding is currently held by NDP MP Heather McPherson.

This riding shares a name and some boundaries with the provincial riding of NDP leader and former premier, Rachel Notley. Rachel Notley was the first non-PC premier in 44 years, winning a staggering majority and winning the majority of seats in Calgary after 26 years of the party not holding seats in the province's largest city. In 2019, this seat was 2/34 in Alberta and 98/338 in Canada by margin.

Rating:

Name: 8.8/10 - Great neighbourhood name! I wouldn't be opposed to Edmonton University because University of Alberta is here too, but it's not the end of the world.

Shape: 7.6/10 - Not awful, but I can't forgive them giving Riverdale to this riding and crossing the river.

Individuality: 9.2/10 - Very individual! Might be a foreshadowing for the direction that Edmonton is going, Premier Notley being from here is a plus too.

Total: 25.6/30 (85.3%)

Tomorrow we're in, well, western Edmonton with Edmonton West!