Liberals win first Calgary seats since 1968 as Conservatives take 8

For the first time in nearly half a century, Calgary has elected a Liberal MP two, in fact while the Conservatives took the othereight seats in the city.

DarshanKangwonCalgarySkyview by a comfortable margin, becoming the first Liberal to earn a seat in the citysince 1968, when PatMahoneytook the now-defunct riding of Calgary South.

And, after a back-and-forth battle that lasted most of the night,Calgary Centre Liberal candidate Kent Hehreked out a narrow victory, winning only 906 more votes than his closest rival,Conservative incumbent Joan Crockatt.

• CalgarySkyview: LiberalDarshanKangwins
• Calgary Centre:KentHehrdefeats JoanCrockatt
• CalgaryConfederation: Len Webber defeats Matt Grant

"It was a bit of a nail biter," Hehr said in his acceptance speech, when his victory finally seemed secure shortly before midnight.

Kang, meanwhile, described the Liberals' victories as a "new dawn" in Alberta.

"We won this campaign the old-fashioned way," he said. "We earned it through hard work and that's really what Canada is all abouthope and hard work, and this country has given a chance to each and every person to reach their goals."

Kang'swin came shortly after CBC News projectedJustin Trudeau wouldbe Canada's next prime minister after leading the Liberal Party to a stunning majority government windashing the hopes of Stephen Harper, who had been seeking his fourth consecutive mandate.

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Conservatives take 8 Calgary ridings

However, theConservatives dominated in the city overall, winning election or re-election in eight of 10 ridings:

• Stephen Harper in Calgary Heritage.
• Len Webber in Calgary Confederation.
• MichelleRempelin Calgary Nose Hill.
• JasonKenneyin CalgaryMidnapore.
• Pat Kelly in Calgary Rocky Ridge.
• RonLiepertin Calgary Signal Hill.
• DeepakObhraiin Calgary Forest Lawn.
• TomKmiecin CalgaryShepard.

Harper to step down as Conservative leader

Speaking at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary, Harper thanked the voters of Calgary Heritage for re-electing him while saying he accepts the overall defeat of his government"without hesitation."

"It remains a true privilege to serve the people of this vibrant city in the Parliament of Canada," Harper said.

Harper did not mention his political future in his speech. However, the president of the party put out a release sayingHarper wouldstep down as Conservative leader following the party'sdefeat.

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Rempel, who served as minister of state for western economic diversification under Harper, was re-elected with 60 per cent of the vote in Calgary Nose Hill, compared to 26.9 per cent for her closest rival, Liberal RobertPrcic.

"There are policies and ideals in our platform that resonate with Canadians,"Rempelsaid, as news of the overall Liberal victory emerged. "I think you always have to go back to those, your roots, your principles, make sure that they're enshrined in your policies and that would be something I would like to see going forward."

Alberta still staunchly Conservative, expert says

Despite the Liberals' breakthrough,Albertaremains staunchly Conservative territory, notedUniversity of Calgary political scientist Anthony Sayer.

He said mostAlbertans continue to see theConservatives in general, and Stephen Harper in particular, as their best choice of representation.

"[Harper]was ours and he was bringing an Alberta view to Ottawa," Sayer said."I think you stick with that until there's evidence that's no longer going to work."

Nenshi:People voted 'not against something, but for something'

There were roughly 2.7 million registered voters in Alberta, including 835,000 in Calgary and 644,000 in Edmonton.

Long lineups were reported at polling stations in Calgaryat the end of the work day.

"I think what is very, very clear is that people are voting not against something, but for something," Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said after polls closed.

"They're voting for a country and vision of a country that they want and for me that has to do with things like who's going to invest in transit, who's going to work on housing, who's going to help us build the infrastructure we need to make the economy go."

Edmonton sees 2 Liberal, 1 NDP victors

By contrast, the 2011 federal electionsaw Conservatives elected in every single Alberta riding except oneEdmontonStrathcona, where Linda Duncan of the NDP was re-elected. Duncancaptured her seat again on Monday night.

• Conservatives elected in five of eight Edmonton ridings

It wasexpected to be a tight race inEdmonton Centre, where all three major parties werelooking to win following theretirement of former Conservative MP Laurie Hawn.

In the end, Liberal Randy Boissonnaultmanaged to pull off a tight win over Conservative James Cumming.

And, in another close race,TimUppal, the Conservative incumbent in EdmontonMillwoodsand minister of state for multiculturalism,was narrowly defeated by Edmonton citycouncillorAmarjeetSohi, who was running for the Liberals.

In Edmonton West,Karen Leibovici aformer MLA, city councillor and mayoral candidatefailed in political comeback bid as a Liberal candidate, losing to Conservative Kelly McCauley.

And in St. Albert-Edmonton, incumbent Brent Rathgeber wasdefeated by Conservative Michael Cooper. Rathgeber ranas an Independent after quitting the Conservative caucus.

Outside major cities

Outside Calgary and Edmonton, Conservative dominance is seen to be more secure, but the NDP hadbeen making a push in the redrawn riding of Lethbridge, where there was no incumbent.

Ultimately, though, Conservative Rachael Harder won Lethbridge handily.

The northern riding of Fort McMurray-Cold Lake had been considered one to watch. However,incumbentDavid Yurdiga of the Conservatives also won by a large margin.

He was up againstLiberal Kyle Harrietha in a rematch of last year's byelection, which was triggered by the resignation of former MP Brian Jean, whonow leads the provincialWildroseparty.

Read our blog to get a recap of the election night excitement and disappointments