If you didn’t know already, there is an upcoming municipal election in Calgary and it’s on track to be one of the most watched municipal elections in over a decade. A new mayor will be elected, as our current Mayor, Mayor Dave Bronconnier will not be seeking re-election, and City Council is likely to look a lot different than it does now.
Now, you might be thinking – why does this matter to me? I can’t vote, I don’t have the opportunity to have my say. Well, I’m here to tell you, that’s not true! And, over the summer, the Mayor’s Youth Council will be preparing for their project, Youth Can Vote, to coincide with the municipal election on October 18, 2010. Youth Can Vote has been an important part of Calgary’s municipal elections since 2001, giving youth the opportunity to become informed about the candidates through the Youth Can Vote website (which is currently under construction and will be up and running later this summer), in addition to youth town halls, and giving youth the opportunity to speak to the candidates themselves. And, on election day, you are given a mock ballot and the chance to vote yourself, and we know that once you vote in Youth Can Vote, you won’t stop there, you’ll turn 18, and vote in elections forever and ever! Over the summer, the Mayor’s Youth Council will be posting on YAA about developments in the municipal election, but in the meantime, the Ethno-Cultural Council of Calgary (ECC) and the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary is working together on a great project. If you know of or are 18 yourself and an immigrant , ECC would like you to participate in a quick 5 minute survey about voting in municipal elections. Click here to take the survey or do them a favor and let someone know about this great project.
