If student voters from two Coast high schools who participated in this year’s mock Student Vote had their say, there would be two female mayors on the Sunshine Coast.
Students from the Sunshine Coast Alternative School cast 164 votes in the student vote, electing Suzanne Senger mayor for Gibsons along with councillors Silas White, Katie Janyk, Stafford Lumley and Jeremy Valeriote.
In Sechelt, students from Chatelech Secondary School cast 641 votes electing Christine Younghusband mayor and Jon Bell, Darren Inkster, Tom Lamb, Mike Shanks, Ed Steeves and Doug Wright to council.
Student Vote is a parallel election program for students under the voting age that coincides with official election periods. Students learn about government and democracy, and research the issues and local candidates through classroom learning, campaign events and take-home activities. The program culminates with an authentic in-school vote on the official election candidates whereby students take on the roles of election officials.
The Student Vote program and resources aim to achieve the following objectives among students:
• Increase knowledge about the electoral process and levels of government.
• Foster a sense of civic responsibility and active citizenship.
• Encourage political dialogue with friends and family.
• Heighten interest about politics and current affairs.
• Practise critical thinking, decision-making and the process of voting.
Student Vote is the flagship program of CIVIX, which is a national, charitable organization with the mission to grow young Canadians into engaged, committed and active citizens.
