“We couldn’t be prouder to have Abigail on our team,” said Alberta Party Leader Stephen Mandel earlier tonight after the party’s provincial board and the Innisfail-Sylvan Lake Constituency Association approved her candidacy. 

 “Abigail is an ideal candidate for the Alberta Party: hard-working, great with people and passionate about public service and building a stronger Alberta.”

Her family has deep roots in the riding and helped pioneer the area. Abigail, a communications professional, wants to bring that same pioneering spirit back to Innisfail-Sylvan Lake and Alberta politics.

“I couldn’t sit on the sidelines anymore. Sadly, politics in our province has become so negative and divided,” she said. “We need real action, fresh leadership and big ideas to ensure our province’s best days are ahead of us -- not behind us.”

“We live in one of the youngest ridings in Alberta, in one of the youngest provinces in Canada -- we can and must do better, and I want to be that person who helps bring change to Innisfail-Sylvan Lake and the rest of Alberta,” Abigail added.

She said residents in the riding are deeply concerned about the province’s economic recovery and finding ways to diversify the local economy, such as growing the agri-food and agri-tourism sectors. Rural crime and access to health services and long-term care also top the list of concerns.

Abigail said she was drawn to the Alberta Party because it strives to find practical and creative solutions to our province’s challenges and opportunities, and isn’t bound by dogma or ideology.

Born in Russia, Abigail moved to a Penhold area family farm as a child after being adopted by Canadian missionaries Casey and Dorothy Douglass. Dorothy’s family the Hodgsons helped settle the area.

Public services has been important to Abigail from an early age. As a teenager, she helped start the first student council at Gateway Christian School in Red Deer. She also served on the high school’s Parent Relations Board.

While studying at The King’s University in Edmonton, Abigail held several positions on its student association, including two terms as student president. She also sat on multiple internal and external boards (these include Board of Governors and Senate for The King’s University), was involved with Alberta Students’ Executive Council (ASEC) and participated in multiple lobby weeks. Abigail also helped run the university’s student athlete support department after graduating.

Abigail holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from The King’s University.

Now that you’ve met Abigail, are you ready to help her make history and become the first Alberta Party candidate to win in Innisfail-Sylvan Lake?

We need your help!

Get involved today:

• Sign up to help on Abigail's election campaign. We’ll be holding campaign training sessions and arranging door-knocking schedules. For more info, send an email to: [email protected].
• Help buy lawn signs, pamphlets and other campaign materials by donating to the Alberta Party.
• Attend the Innisfail-Sylvan Lake CA fundraiser tonight in Sylvan Lake. They are holding a “Farm to Fork” Dinner with all proceeds going to the by-election campaign.