Trevor Selent (left) and Connor Jacobson, grade 12s at Notre Dame High School, took part in Student Vote Canada 2019 on Thrusday. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

casting their ballot

Student Vote shows youth eager to have voices heard

Oct 17, 2019 | 4:25 PM

More than one million Canadian elementary and secondary students are casting ballots this week as part of Student Vote Canada 2019.

The vote, which will engage more than 9500 schools nationwide, is made possible by Elections Canada, and CIVIX, a non-partisan Canadian charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through education.

At Hunting Hills High School, grade 10 student Grayson Leuck said even though his ballot doesn’t count towards the actual federal election on Oct. 21, the act of voting does feel good.

“I feel like I kind of have a voice or a say in what’s happening. I get to voice my opinion. It reflects our values as kids, and I think for certain things, youth do need to be heard more because we are merging into society and entering the workforce,” he said.

“It’s good that we’re all uniting and our voices are being heard,” Leuck added, referring to causes such as the Global Climate Strike. “It’s good if the government will listen to that and to see that it’s happening is meaningful to people.”

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Next door at Notre Dame High School, Socials 30 students were also voting on Thursday, including 17-year-old Trevor Selent who pondered what he would tell someone who didn’t plan to vote.

“Voting is good because citizens are able to express their values and shape the future of our society,” he said. “Students are the future generation of who are going to be voting and they should have somewhere to express their views.”

Meantime, classmate Connor Jacobson used the word ‘cool’ to describe the fact that for the first time ever, millennials are the largest voting bloc in a federal election,

“We have a say on how this election goes instead of in the past where it’s more just our parents,” he remarked. “Youth haven’t been heard as much as they should be.”

All three students vowed to vote as soon as they are able.

Social Studies teacher Bob Marsh, technically a millennial himself at 35 years of age, said the key message for students is encouraging them to be engaged citizens.

“When I first heard that news, I was really excited for myself and for students because they now have a say or will in this or the next election on how they want their Canada to look. From what I’ve seen from these students, they’re very active in politics and want to get engaged and be a part of it,” said Marsh.

“The federal government needs to do a better job of listening to the youth, especially the 18-30 demographic. If the federal government isn’t listening to the largest demographic of people voting, they’re doing a disservice to Canadians.”

Marsh also touched on the Global Climate Strike and how Greta Thunberg’s actions can be an inspiration to youth who hope to make a difference in modern society, be it by voting or becoming engaged in other ways.

“Students at the high school level can see Greta and say, ‘Wow, a young person is out there doing great things, so maybe one day or today, I can go out and do great things as well.’ Weve talked about her being the frontrunner for the Nobel Peace Prize and the implications of that,” he said. “The whole ageism thing has kind of fallen apart — people saying ‘Oh you’re only this age so you don’t have a say’ — I think we’ve moved past that with social media and young people now being able to connect and tell their stories.”

Results of the Student Vote Canada 2019 will be released following the close of polls on Oct. 21.