Damien Kurek
Damien Kurek | |
|---|---|
Kurek in 2025 | |
| Member of Parliament for Battle River—Crowfoot | |
| In office October 21, 2019 – June 17, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin Sorenson |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 28, 1989[1] |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Danielle (m. 2012) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Special Areas, Alberta, Canada |
| Alma mater | |
Damien C. Kurek (born November 28, 1989) is a Canadian lobbyist, former farmer and politician who was the member of Parliament (MP) for Battle River—Crowfoot from 2019 to 2025. A member of the Conservative Party, Kurek resigned from the House of Commons on June 17, 2025, triggering a by-election to be contested by party leader Pierre Poilievre. Following his resignation, Kurek became a principal at Toronto-based lobbying company Upstream Strategy Group.
Early life and education
Born in 1989, Kurek grew up on a farm outside of Consort, Alberta, the son of Jodi and Jason Felix Kurek.[2][3][4] When he was fifteen, Kurek went on a trip to Ottawa and put a call into Stephen Harper's office. A ten-minute meeting was arranged with Kurek, Harper, and Kurek's MP at the time, Kevin Sorenson. Kurek is quoted as saying, "For a kid who loved politics, that was the pinnacle of everything you could possibly imagine."[5] Kurek worked as a farmer and seasonally in the oil and gas sector. Since a young age, he has also been involved in his family farm near Consort, Alberta.
Kurek obtained his high school diploma in 2008 from Consort Public School. After high school, Kurek went to Eston College, where he obtained an associate diploma in Biblical Studies in 2010. Kurek also holds a bachelor's degree in political science and communications from Trinity Western University as of 2015.[6]
Political career
Political staffer
He also worked for MP Kevin Sorenson and in various roles at the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.[7] Before he was nominated as the Conservative canidate himself in Battle River—Crowfoot, Kurek worked for Sorenson's constituency office in Camrose, Alberta.[8]
Member of Parliament
Kurek was elected to Parliament in the 2019 general election. Kurek has served as the Conservative shadow minister of Canadian heritage.[9]
On May 2, 2025, Kurek announced he would resign his seat and step down as a MP to trigger the 2025 Battle River—Crowfoot federal by-election, which party leader Pierre Poilievre will contest due to his defeat in Carleton in the 2025 general election. Kurek said he intends to run again in the riding in the next general election.[10][11] Per the Elections Act, Kurek will be able to resign 30 days after the election result is officially published in the Canada Gazette,[12] which occurred on May 15, 2025.[13]
On June 17, 2025, Kurek officially resigned his seat in the House of Commons.[14][15]
Lobbying career
Following his resignation from Parliament, lobbying firm Upstream Strategy Group announced that Kurek would join the company as a principal, to provide "tailored government relations, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement solutions for Upstream’s clients in Alberta and beyond".[16][17][18]
Personal life
Kurek resides in Alberta's Special Areas. He also continues to work on his family farm.[19] Kurek married his wife, Danielle, on June 9, 2012, in Saskatoon[20] and has three sons, Matthew, Emerson and Winston.
Electoral record
| 2025 Canadian federal election: Battle River—Crowfoot | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | 53,684 | 82.84 | +11.46 | |||||
| Liberal | Brent Sutton | 7,566 | 11.67 | +7.41 | ||||
| New Democratic | James MacKay | 2,061 | 3.18 | −6.52 | ||||
| People's | Jonathan Bridges | 1,022 | 1.58 | −7.75 | ||||
| Green | Douglas Gook | 474 | 0.73 | −0.18 | ||||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 64,982 | 99.40 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 391 | 0.60 | ||||||
| Turnout | 65,373 | 76.70 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 85,237 | |||||||
| Conservative notional hold | Swing | +2.03 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[21][22] | ||||||||
| Note: number of eligible voters does not include voting day registrations. | ||||||||
| 2021 Canadian federal election: Battle River—Crowfoot | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | 41,819 | 71.3 | -14.2 | $82,245.43 | ||||
| New Democratic | Tonya Ratushniak | 5,761 | 9.8 | +4.7 | $1,764.29 | |||
| People's | Dennis Trepanier | 5,440 | 9.3 | +6.7 | $1,916.25 | |||
| Liberal | Leah Diane McLeod | 2,515 | 4.3 | +0.2 | $0.00 | |||
| Maverick | Jeff Golka | 2,393 | 4.1 | – | $28,982.24 | |||
| Green | Daniel Brisbin | 554 | 0.9 | -1.8 | $234.04 | |||
| Veterans Coalition | John Irwin | 178 | 0.3 | — | none listed | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 58.660 | – | – | $135,622.71 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 260 | |||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | -9.45 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[23] | ||||||||
| 2019 Canadian federal election: Battle River—Crowfoot | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | 53,309 | 85.5 | +4.59 | $61,063.42 | ||||
| New Democratic | Natasha Fryzuk | 3,185 | 5.1 | -1.44 | $0.00 | |||
| Liberal | Dianne Clarke | 2,557 | 4.1 | -5.26 | none listed | |||
| Green | Geordie Nelson | 1,689 | 2.7 | -0.48 | $2,467.23 | |||
| People's | David A. Michaud | 1,620 | 2.6 | - | none listed | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 62,360 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 352 | |||||||
| Turnout | 62,712 | 77.3 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 81,123 | |||||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.02 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[24][25][26] | ||||||||
References
- ^ "Conservatives roll on with Kurek leading the way". Bashaw Star. September 25, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Conservatives roll on with Kurek leading the way". Bashaw Star. September 25, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ https://openparliament.ca/debates/2024/10/30/damien-kurek-1/only/
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/dckurek/posts/on-behalf-of-the-entire-kurek-family-danielle-and-i-want-to-thank-our-community-/991640109432904/
- ^ "Damien Kurek joins the race for federal Conservative local nomination". Stettler Independent. May 28, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ Kurek, Damien. "Education". LinkedIn. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ "Meet Your MP". Battle River--Crowfoot. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ Weber, Mark (September 5, 2021). "Meet the candidate – Conservative – Damien Kurek". Stettler Independent. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ "Conservative Party of Canada Shadow Cabinet". Conservative Party of Canada. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ Nardi, Christopher (May 2, 2025). "Alberta MP Damien Kurek stepping down for Poilievre to run in byelection". National Post. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ Peter Zimonjic. "Poilievre to run for Alberta seat after MP-elect Damien Kurek agrees to step down". CBC News. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ "Conservative Damien Kurek says he'll step aside for Poilievre — but by law he has to wait". CBC News. May 6, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ "Clock starts on timing of byelection Poilievre hopes to use to return to Parliament". CTV News. Canadian Press. May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ Baxter, David. "MP Damien Kurek resigns seat so Poilievre can run in Alberta byelection". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ David Baxter (June 17, 2025). "MP resigns seat so Pierre Poilievre can run in Alberta byelection". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ "Upstream Strategy Group Welcomes Damien Kurek as its Newest Principal". www.upstreamgroup.ca. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ "Upstream Strategy Group Welcomes Damien Kurek as its Newest Principal, Kicking Off Calgary Stampede with Bold Alberta Expansion". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ Tipper, Stephen (July 4, 2025). "After stepping down for Poilievre to run, MP Damien Kurek lands role at government relations, lobbying firm". Calgary Herald.
- ^ Kurek, Damien. "About Me". Damien C. Kurek. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ Kurek, Damien. "Facebook post". Facebook. Damien C. Kurek. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ "Voter information service". Elections Canada. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ^ "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". Elections Canada. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
- ^ "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2020.