Naheed Nenshi

Naheed Kurban Nenshi (born February 2, 1972) is a Canadian politician who has served as the leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) since 2024. He previously served as the 36th mayor of Calgary for three terms from 2010 to 2021.

Nenshi attended the University of Calgary and earned degrees in commerce as well a Master of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Prior to entering politics, he worked as a management consultant as well as an instructor in non-profit management in the Bissett School of Business at Mount Royal University and wrote a regular municipal affairs column for the Calgary Herald.

Nenshi won the 2010 mayoral election with 39% of the vote. Being a Shia Ismaili, he became the first Muslim to become mayor of a major Canadian city. He was re-elected in 2013 with 74% of the vote and again re-elected in 2017 to a third term with 51% of the vote. After serving three terms as mayor, he did not seek re-election in the 2021 Calgary municipal election and was succeeded by Jyoti Gondek. He had been regarded as one of the most popular mayors in Canada during his term.

He re-entered politics in March 2024, when he announced he would run for leader of the Alberta NDP. He won on the first ballot with 86% support and 62,746 votes, replacing former Premier Rachel Notley as leader. In January 2025, Nenshi announced that he was running in the upcoming Edmonton-Strathcona by-election.