The top three polling mayoral candidates cast their ballots early Monday morning, as Calgary votes for a new mayor and a host of new councillors.
Polling stations opened across Calgary at 8 a.m. Monday, and there are differing reports on the traffic in some areas.
Where Jyoti Gondek cast her ballot Monday morning, at Capt. Nichola Goddard School in the north, there was a trickle of voting activity. Meanwhile, at John Ware School in southwest Calgary, where Jeromy Farkas cast his ballot, there was a steady stream of voters filing in.
Jeff Davison, who cast his ballot at St. Joan of Arc school in the southwest, said the campaign has been a rewarding one.
“I’m born and raised and lived here all my life and just getting out to places I’ve never seen before and meeting people I’ve never met has just been really the highlight of this campaign,” Davison said.
Davison said he thinks Calgarians have been paying close attention to the campaign, even though it came on the heels of a federal election.
Gondek cast her ballot with her family Monday morning. Outside the polling station, she said all the hard work has been done by her campaign, now it’s up to Calgarians to decide.
“It’s such an important election. It’s the most important one in a generation,” she said.
“We have the ability to shape our future today. And having that ability to cast a ballot for what that future looks like, it’s just such a tremendous privilege and I really hope everybody gets out.”
Farkas said it’s been a wild and crazy ride over the past year and a half. He was sporting a new haircut when he met with media Monday morning.
“I think, regardless of the outcome, I think we’re very much looking forward to a strong finish,” he said.
“There’s nothing like the feeling of seeing your name on the ballot.”
Early voting numbers
The City of Calgary released its first set of voting numbers (not the candidate tallies), as of 11 a.m.
They also provided information on the typical wait for a voter during this year’s municipal election, throughout the day.
