Three local students unions are part of a province-wide campaign to urge young voters to take part in the provincial election later this month.
The College of New Caledonia Students' Union, Northern Undergraduate Students Society (NUGSS) and Northern B.C. Graduate Students Society are taking part in the Take it Over campaign, launched by the B.C. Federation of Students.
"MLAs are elected by their constituents to represent them on a provincial level. Young people are part of that group and should not be left behind," NUGSS president Jingyu Chen said in a press release. "It’s our responsibility as student societies to ensure that students who are eligible to vote are informed about the election process and that their voices are heard by the people that represent them.”
Young voters can go online to www.takeitover.ca to pledge to vote in the Oct. 24 election, and learn more about how to get involved.
CNC Students' Union chairperson Sharanjit Kaur to vote for the leader they think will create the kind of future they want to be part of.
“Elections become incredibly important to the youth who desire to grow in the world with their capabilities," Kaur said in a press release. "So, I would like to request everyone and, in particular, the young voters to make the best out of this preliminary opportunity first. Young people can discuss all the qualities and opportunities they desire for their future and then decide which leader is ready to play a part in their future."
Northern B.C. Graduate Students Society director of external affairs Abby Dooks said grad students are often in a different place in their lives than undergraduate students, and should not be forgotten by the policy makers in Victoria.
“We are teachers, researchers – our work is published and can achieve academic clout for their institutions to boost their popularity," Dooks said in a press release. "We can discover new methods scientifically, politically or otherwise that can contribute to how policy is formed and what technological advances are made... It is very important that graduate students’ vote for a leader who will recognize our uniqueness in contributions as well as needs."
Some students are also parents, and face unique challenges, she added.
Two UNBC students are on the ballot in the riding of Prince George-Valemount. Political science student Laura Parent is running for the NDP, while forestry student Mackenzie Kerr is representing the Green Party.
