Student Vote 2011

Student Vote, is a non-profit organization which aims to involve young Canadians to participate in democracy.
This program mimics and parallels the election process for students under the legal voting age. Over 5000 schools across Canada have participated in this program since 2003.

This year, was our first year to participate. For the last 2 weeks, we have learned about the levels of government, the Canadian electoral process, our constituents, party platforms, the different political parties, and the issues of this election. We've learned about our right and responsibilities as Canadians to vote.
Some days were very confusing, but some days were interesting and fulfilling. We engaged in some lively family discussions about politics, which is something I'd never in a million years thought would be possible. Even Emilie got in on the action!

Thursday afternoon, we "set-up", our polling station kitchen table, and the 4 kids voted, just as if you or I were at the polling stations. It was a very sombre mood :) I recorded their votes, and reported online our results. We had a 100% turnout!

Their votes, along with over 500,000 other students are counted and official results are released Election Night. It should be interesting to see who the majority of young Canadians favor this time around.

In retrospect, the last 2 weeks for me, hasn't been about "marks" or finishing off our Social curriculum. It wasn't about making sure this looks good in our year-end portfolio. It wasn't on my agenda at all.  I'm not expecting any one of my children to have political aspirations.

(Now I'll get on my soap-box)
As parents, we need to teach our children about our freedoms, and our choices as Canadians. We need to provide them with opportunities to see how true democracy works, and not about being apathetic. (OK...now I'll get off my soap-box)

This was a teachable moment, and I seized it...Carpe Diem...and I can only hope that all 4 kids got something out of this.

Our Polling Station

A serious moment