EDMONTON — Alberta has reached a new political milestone. A recall petition has officially been approved for Calgary-Bow MLA Demetrios Nicolaides, marking the first-ever recall petition to move forward since the Recall Act came into effect.
The petition was submitted by Jennifer Yeremiy and approved by Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure, after meeting all legal requirements. Official notices were sent out on October 14, 2025, to the MLA, the Premier, the Speaker of the Legislature, and the applicant.
What This Means
The recall petition allows eligible voters in the Calgary-Bow area to sign and show their support for recalling their MLA. To succeed, the campaign needs 16,006 valid signatures—that’s 60% of the 26,676 people who voted in the last provincial election in the riding.
The signature collection period runs from October 23, 2025, to January 21, 2026.
How the Petition Works
Only registered canvassers can collect signatures. Canvassers must live in Calgary-Bow and follow Elections Alberta’s guidelines. Only eligible voters who have lived in Calgary-Bow for at least 3 months can sign. Signatures must be collected on official paper forms — no digital signatures are allowed. Each signature must be witnessed and verified.
Once the 90-day collection period ends, Elections Alberta will review the signatures. A report will be made public no later than February 11, 2026, and results will be shared with the MLA, the applicant, the party leader, the Speaker of the Legislature, and Albertans.
What’s Next
The applicant will now register canvassers to begin signature collection. Elections Alberta will review and approve these applications and issue official ID badges. Voters in Calgary-Bow will begin seeing canvassers in their communities in the coming weeks. If enough valid signatures are gathered and verified, the recall process will move to the next stage.
A First for Alberta
This is the first recall petition ever approved under the province’s Recall Act, a law designed to give voters a stronger voice in holding elected officials accountable between elections.
Albertans can read both the applicant’s and the MLA’s response statements, along with full details of the process, on Elections Alberta’s Current Recall Petitions page.
This story is part of our continuing coverage of Alberta’s democratic processes and civic engagement. Stay tuned as we follow the developments in Calgary-Bow.
