Thousands of students from 26 different schools across N.W.T. are taking part in Student Vote Canada’s election program.
The program is run through an organization called CIVIX, which is dedicated to enhancing civic education for school-aged youth and bringing “democracy to life in the classroom.”
Dan Allan, who is the chief program officer, told True North FM that the program is popular among many students across the territories and the country. It gets them talking about important issues that affect their communities.
“I think it gives them a chance to kind of engage and learn about the political process and voting in Canada,” explained Allan.
Allan said that what he has heard from different students across the country is that the outcome from this campaign is going to be very meaningful.
“I think a lot of students are kind of picking up on the fact that this is very important,” he said.
The first student vote program first took place in Ontario in 2003 and began in N.W.T. in 2004.
This year, students from École St.Patrick High School, Range Lake North School, Echo-Dene School, Thomas Simpson School, Mackenzie Mountain School, École Itlo, Angik School, Charles Yohin School, Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School, Chief Paul Niditchie School, East Three Secondary School, École Allain St. Cyr, École Sir John Franklin High School, École St. Joseph School. Helen Kalvak School, Jean Wetrade Gameti School, Kakisa Lake School, Liidlii Kue Elementary School, Mangilaluk School, Mildred Hall School, Moose Kerr School, N.J. Macpherson School, Princess Alexandra School. the K’alemi Dene Community School of Ndilo, Weledeh Catholic School and William McDonald School all participated in the student vote.
Last week, students from École St.Patrick High School cast their votes at polling stations set up at the school
“We’ve been doing student vote for as long as it has been around, for all federal elections and usually for Territorial and municipal elections,” said Don Reid, who is the school’s principal.
Reid said that this year 249 students at the school cast a ballot in the student election.
“We feel it is important for students to see that democracy is something we can all engage in, that all voices matter, that voting is an important part of that, and it’s something that is pretty simple to do. People who have never voted before are sometimes intimidated by voting because they think it might be complicated, and there is sometimes anxiety about the unknown. So, having students participate in Student Vote helps them feel more comfortable with the process so they won’t be intimidated and will hopefully vote in “real” elections when it’s their turn to do so,” said Reid.
Results of the student vote will be released after official polls close today on election day!
