Sonya Sharp is a proud lifelong Calgarian who has passionately served our community for 24 years. She embodies the spirit of Calgary. She is a mom to two teenage boys, a wife, and a daughter. As the child of immigrants, she has seen firsthand the sacrifices and determination it took to build a life here. She understands the value of hard work and the vital role businesses play in growing strong communities.

Sonya has always been ready to serve and focuses on helping those around her. After starting her post-secondary education to become a teacher, Sonya answered a family call to pause her degree and stepped up to manage the family construction business. She gained valuable experience and completed her diploma at SAIT while simultaneously serving her community as a lifeguard.

With over 16 years of experience, Sonya learned firsthand the challenges and resilience needed to be a business owner in Calgary. In 2005, she began working at City Hall, serving customers firsthand in the Planning Department. Over the 13 years that Sonya worked in Planning and Development, she gained a comprehensive understanding of city building and City processes (good and bad).

In 2018, she championed local businesses as the Leader of the Business and Local Economy team. Her innovative initiatives included:

Sonya also took a leadership role on the Council’s Business Advisory Committee where worked collaboratively to find common ground and develop innovative solutions that delivered meaningful results.

In 2021, Sonya reached a ceiling where creating meaningful change within City Administration became challenging. Motivated to ensure the voices of Calgarians were heard, she took the bold step to quit her job to run for City Council. As a dedicated councillor for Ward 1, she has made it her mission to enhance safety by:

Sonya’s strong leadership, commitment and common-sense solutions ensure Calgarians have reliable services, from water to road maintenance. She does not shy away from hard work, chairing numerous Council committees focusing on the critical services delivered to Calgarians.

Sonya is now running for mayor because she believes every Calgarian deserves a city that truly works for them. She has a track record of pulling people together to roll up their sleeves and work to find solutions to pressing issues. With her business background, experience in City Administration, and leadership of Council committees, all focused on achieving results, Sonya has the hands-on experience that sets her apart. She truly understands what is needed to implement positive change, both at the Council level and within Administration.

Her vision is clear: an affordable, efficient, and supportive Calgary where residents feel safe and future innovators and entrepreneurs choose to build a life here. Most importantly, she envisions a place we are all proud to call home.

With her deep roots in northwest Calgary and decades of public service experience, Sonya is dedicated to reconnecting all Calgarians with their local government.

Join Sonya in building a Calgary for all of us, one that is safe, strong and sensible.