Amarjeet Sohi

Amarjeet Sohi, born on March eighth, nineteen sixty-four, is a prominent Canadian politician with a diverse background that includes roles as a bus driver, actor, playwright, and council member. Originally from India, Sohi immigrated to Canada in nineteen eighty-one, where he began his career as a taxi driver in Edmonton. His journey took a dramatic turn in nineteen eighty-eight when he returned to India and was detained on terrorism charges, enduring harsh treatment and solitary confinement for twenty-one months before being released due to insufficient evidence.

Upon returning to Edmonton, Sohi transitioned to working as a bus driver, which eventually led him to a career in politics. He was elected to the Edmonton City Council in the two thousand seven municipal election, representing Ward twelve after previously finishing fourth in the prior election. His political career continued to flourish, and following the two thousand fifteen federal election, he served as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Edmonton Mill Woods until his defeat in the two thousand nineteen election.

During his time in federal politics, Sohi held significant cabinet positions, serving as the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities from two thousand fifteen to two thousand eighteen, and as the Minister of Natural Resources from two thousand eighteen to two thousand nineteen. After his federal defeat, he announced his candidacy for mayor of Edmonton in the two thousand twenty-one municipal election, winning the position on October eighteenth, two thousand twenty-one. This victory made him the first visible minority to serve as mayor of Edmonton, alongside Jyoti Gondek, who was elected mayor of Calgary on the same day, marking a historic moment as Canada’s first Punjabi mayors of major cities.

In two thousand twenty-five, Sohi declared his intention to return to federal politics, running as the Liberal candidate in Edmonton Southeast. However, he was defeated by Conservative candidate Jagsharan Singh Mahal. Following this loss, Sohi announced that he would not seek re-election as mayor in the upcoming two thousand twenty-five municipal election, concluding a significant chapter in his political career.