Despite loss, spirits remain high at Liberal watch party in Calgary Confederation
Calgary Confederation’s Liberal candidate Matt Grant and his allies fittingly gathered at McMahon Stadium’s balloon-filled Red & White Club last night while the federal election results rolled in.
The queue for the bar was steady, laughter was plentiful, and following the Liberals’ majority win, the atmosphere was positive throughout the evening, despite Matt Grant’s narrow loss to Len Webber.
Calgarians young and old ate, drank and counted down the time for the final election results with the same kind of anticipation a New Year’s Eve party would have.
David Swann, leader of the Alberta Liberal Party, and former Liberal MLA Harry Chase were spotted cheering Grant on.
Alberta Liberal Party Leader David Swann (right) and former MLA Harry Chase celebrate the announcement of a federal Liberal majority. Photo by Amy Tucker.
Swann said that because the Liberals have formed the majority government, Canadians can expect to see a greener environment, respect for First Nations and new Canadians, and overall support for the most vulnerable in our society. Calgary is sending two Liberal MPs to Ottawa, Kent Hehr and Darshan Kang. Swann added that he is happy to see Grant have such strong election results despite his loss.
“It’s been wonderful to see how he’s blossomed into the best young politician I’ve ever met,” said Swann.
Wadih Kanaan, a new Canadian citizen, said he had the chance to meet Grant prior to election day.
“When I heard Matt Grant talk, a lot of what he said was [in] my priorities,” said Kanaan.
New Canadian Wadih Kanaan supports Calgary Confederation candidate Matt Grant at the Red and White Club on Monday, Oct. 19. This is Kanaan’s first election as a Canadian citizen. Photo by Amy Tucker.
Grant cheered the Liberal Party’s success and remarked on how proud he was.
“Calgarians and Albertans made history tonight,” he said in his speech at the end of the night.
The rally wrapped up the evening with cake, music and mingling.
The editor responsible for this story is Madison Farkas mfarkas@cjournal.ca