Please join us on Wednesday, November 27 at 6 pm for our joint nomination meeting for the federal NDP in the ridings Yellowhead and Airdrie—Cochrane!
The joint nomination meeting will be held online via Zoom. Please RSVP to receive the Zoom meeting details.
You may have heard the federal riding boundaries are changing, and the former riding of Banff—Airdrie will no longer exist. It has been split up between Yellowhead and Airdrie—Cochrane, so we are excited to hold a shared event for the new ridings!
Approved Nomination Candidate, Yellowhead: Avni Soma
Avni Soma is a scientist, small business owner, and community leader from Canmore, Alberta, with a background in healthcare and over 15 years’ experience in the food industry.
Committed to affecting change in local food systems, Avni launched and ran a successful organic, fair trade tea company, before she co-founded and developed Farm Box. Farm Box was a social business that was founded on supporting local agriculture by building direct relationships with farmers and was an early market leader in the organic food box delivery model.
Avni helped start Alpine Edible Schoolyards, a not-for-profit enterprise that combines urban farming and educational school gardens. Avni served on the board of the Bow Valley Food Alliance, a not-for-profit that fosters community-based food systems. Currently, Avni sits on the National Food Policy Advisory Council as well as on the board of Alberta Food Matters. Avni is a member of the Coalition for Healthy School Food and operates a hot lunch program that she started at École Notre-Dame des Monts in Canmore, Alberta.
A passionate cross-country skier, Avni spends her time on the trails envisioning ways to improve local food systems. She is committed to inspiring meaningful change in her community, and will always bring some Alberta carrots to the table.
Avni holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and a Master of Science in Physiology from the University of Calgary. She is fluent in English, French and Gujarati.
Approved Nomination Candidate, Airdrie—Cochrane: Sarah Zagoda
Sarah Zagoda is a dedicated mother of three, an accomplished professional, and a committed advocate for her community in Airdrie. She proudly serves as the School Technologist at Airdrie's largest high school, bringing two decades of experience in the technology sector to her role supporting students and staff.
She is passionate about making a positive impact in her community, and is a dedicated volunteer for community organizations and school events. Always eager to learn from others, Sarah brings a light and a compassionate ear anywhere she goes.
In 2021, Sarah embarked on her political journey when she was encouraged to run for office as the Federal NDP candidate for Banff-Airdrie. Since then, she has committed herself to leadership roles as the President of the Banff-Airdrie Federal NDP and President of the Airdrie-East Provincial NDP.
She was born and raised in Edmonton, then moved coast to coast across Canada in her twenties before settling down to raise a family in Airdrie. These experiences shaped her values and deepened her commitment to collaborative governance, environmental stewardship, and the greater good. She believes in the importance of respect, trust, and honesty to address the challenges facing Albertans today.
When not juggling her professional responsibilities, Sarah enjoys being a busy mom, wife, spending time outdoors, and contributing her time helping others.