CALGARY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday October 2nd, 2025



The Calgary Police Association (CPA) is making an unprecedented endorsement in the upcoming municipal election, backing Sonya Sharp for mayor and her Communities First candidates as ward councillors. These include:

Kim Tyers, Ward 1

Jeremy Wong, Ward 4

Terry Wong, Ward 7

Cornelia Wiebe, Ward 8

Alison Karim McSwiney, Ward 9

Andre Chabot, Ward 10

Rob Ward, Ward 11

Shane Byciuk, Ward 12

Dan McLean, Ward 13



CPA is the professional association representing Calgary’s 2300+ sworn police officers. Speaking on behalf of the organization, President John Orr said, “Sonya and her team of candidates get it. They are responding to a call for assistance from front-line officers.” Orr noted policing is increasingly difficult in Calgary, with the service currently “well below its appropriate service complement. “Our Cop-to-Pop ratio is well below the national average. District Patrol Teams and Investigative areas are operating at dangerously low levels, requiring an ever-increasing amount of overtime and callout, just to meet insufficient minimum staffing levels,” added Orr.



Communities First mayoral candidate Sonya Sharp said she and her 9 CF colleagues are “humbled and honoured” to have CPA’s support and are all committed to finding budget savings and reallocations to support re-investment in the police service. “We’re committed to adding 500 more police officers in the next four years, based on a plan we’ll be looking for from the Chief and Commission. Community safety begins and ends with having an effective, professional and well-resourced police service, and our team is 100% committed to delivering it.”



Sharp noted that financial support for policing also needs to be accompanied by a change of tone from City Hall about law enforcement itself. “The Police have the difficult job of upholding our laws and standards, fairly, without bias or favour. They need to be supported in that, to know if they do their jobs professionally and in good faith, they will always have the backing of City Hall and Calgarians,” said Sharp.