Darshan Kang, Calgary Skyview winner, telling supporters 'you are the change'

Calgary Skyviewwent to the Liberalson Monday with former MLA Darshan Kang becoming the first Liberal to win a seat in the city since 1968.

Kang came out with an early lead against Conservative Devinder Shory,and never looked back. Hours later, a second Liberal,Kent Hehr, defeated incumbent Conservative MPJoan Crockattby fewer than 1,000 votesin Calgary Centre.

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During his victory speech, Kangtold the crowd of excited supporters they made history.

"Today, you have decided to be heard," he said.

"This country has given a chance to each and every person to reach their goals.Each and every one of you are the change."

The Liberals fought hard for the riding, identifying it as one of three that could provide an opening for the party in Calgary.

Liberal Leader JustinTrudeau who led the party to a stunning majority government Monday nightmade CalgarySkyviewone of hisfinal campaign stopson Sunday, ahead of thevote.

Shory campaign concedes voters wanted 'different direction'

Shory was not available for comment after his defeat, but his campaign manager, Steven Ladd,said the candidate is "respecting the wishes of the people and spending time with the family."

When asked if he thought the campaign was a victim of a backlash against the national campaign and Stephen Harper, Ladd refused to speculate.

"I don't think there's anything really there that had an impact on our campaign other than the undecided residents deciding that they wanted to go a different direction," he said.

Crowded field

A crowded field of eight candidates was onthe ballot, but the race waslargely considered to be betweenShoryandKang.

The other contenders wereSahajvirSingh of the NDP, EdReddyof the Green Party, Daniel Blanchard with the Marxist-Leninists,NajeebButt of the Progressive Canadian Party, StephenGarveyof the Democratic Advancement Party and independent Joseph Young.

The race has seen some controversy, with bothKangandShorybeingaccused of campaigningat or near the Genesis Centre while advance voting was taking place, in contravention of election laws.

New riding

The riding used to known as Calgary Northeast but was renamed in 2013 when the federal voting map was redrawn. It lost some territory in the south and southwest and gained some territory in the north but otherwise stayed largely the same.

Shorywas first elected in Calgary Northeast in 2008 and re-elected in 2011, earning more than half the popular vote in each election.

Kangis the former Liberal MLA forCalgary-McCallwho opted to not run for re-election in May's provincial election and turned his attention to federal politics instead.

Diverse

Skyview is a diverse riding, encompassing most of the northeast.

Just 57 per cent of residents listed English as their mother tongue in the 2006 census, with 16 per cent listing Punjabi.

Visible minorities made up 59.6 per cent of the population in that census, 31.4 per cent were South Asian.

The riding is bound by 32nd Avenue N.E. to the south and Deerfoot Trail, Beddington Trail, Harvest Hills Boulevard and Centre Street North to the west.