Candidate in federal Alberta byelection stops door-knocking due to death threats

Sarah Spanier, who is running in the Battle River-Crowfoot byelection, says she's stopped door knocking because of death threats.

An Independent candidate running in a rural Alberta byelection says she has stopped door-knocking because of death threats.

Sarah Spanier, 33, of Castor, Alta., says she has told Mounties about the online threats, which include a social media comment saying she would be met with a shotgun if she showed up at someone’s door.

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She attributes the threats and other derogatory messages she has received to her advocacy for transgender people during her campaign in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding, which encompasses communities such as Camrose, Drumheller and Wainwright.

(Some) were ambiguous like, ‘If you come to my door, you don’t know what’s going to happen,’" Spanier said in an interview Thursday.

“It’s unfortunate. I’ve had supporters who have also been very quiet in supporting me because they fear for their safety and their business, which is really, really heartbreaking to hear."

Spanier is one of almost 80 candidates running in Battle River-Crowfoot, the riding won handily by Conservative Damien Kurek in the April general election.

Kurek stepped down to allow Pierre Poilievre to run in a byelection after the party leader lost his seat in the Ottawa riding of Carleton.

Spanier, who entered the race in early May, said she now is exclusively campaigning online and at public events.

“I would like to go door-knocking. It’s just a matter of finding people who feel safe enough to come with me and who I feel will be able to protect themselves if needed,” she said.

Spanier said she is still hopeful she will win the byelection.

“Even though I’ve had people just completely tear me down, I have also had conversations with those people which have turned into signatures because they listen and they understand,” she said.

She said RCMP have recommended Spanier block the hateful online commentators and told her those who threaten are unlikely to act on it.

Spanier said she is staying vigilant as she has seen comments online from people asking for her home address.

“Being in a small town, it is very easy for somebody who doesn’t like me here to give my address out to anybody who wants it,” she said.

Voters go to the polls Aug. 18.

RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said on Thursday no one has been charged in the investigation into the threats against Spanier.

“I can add that in recent elections RCMP have received reports of threats and mischief to various candidates and their offices,” he said.

“These actions have no place in a democratic society.”

By Fakiha Baig

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2025.