There鈥檚 something different about this municipal election season.
It鈥檚 not just that Halifax will be voting for its first new mayor in 12 years on October 20. And while it鈥檚 exciting that residents can now vote online in advance polls, it鈥檚 not just that either. 聽
No, it鈥檚 that this will be the first election in the Halifax Regional Municipality where the majority of the city鈥檚 30,000-plus students are eligible to vote. And a coalition of the city鈥檚 student unions is working hard to make sure students make the best use of their new franchise.
The brings together student unions from Dal, MSVU, King鈥檚, NSCAD and SMU. Its goal: to position this election as a starting point for a further discussion about the role and potential of students as part of HRM. 聽
And voting is a big part of that, because this year students who have lived in HRM for three months or more are eligible to vote, even if they left for the summer.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 just want students to vote; we want them to be engaged voters,鈥� says Matthew Glynn, a soon-to-be Dal graduate who鈥檚 coordinating the coalition鈥檚 efforts. (He crosses the stage to receive his BSc in biology and sustainability at Wednesday鈥檚 convocation ceremony.)
鈥淲e鈥檙e talking about the level [of government] where a number of issues that really matter to students are decided: transit, culture, arts, safety and policing,鈥� he adds. 鈥淭hese issues are a huge part of student life.鈥�
The Metro Student Community Coalition has held several events already, including a 鈥淪poke Out鈥� bike ride with several candidates for mayor and council taking part.
Debates, workshops and more
This week, things really ramp up, with two public debates: one on Monday night, hosted with our HRM Alliance, for candidates in District 7, where a large number of Dal, King鈥檚 and SMU students reside; and one on Tuesday for mayor candidates hosted with The Coast and NS Right to Know.
Both debates are at 7 p.m. in the McInnes Room of the Dalhousie Student Union Building.
鈥淚 hope that students leave feeling more connected with their community and perhaps with HRM in general,鈥� says Jaida Regan, DSU community outreach coordinator and organizer of the debates.
The coalition is also co-hosting a voting workshop for students on Thursday, Oct. 4, a primer on voting and broader municipal engagement featuring presentations from Dal municipal elections expert Jack Novack and HRM returning officer Cathy Mellett. The hour-long session takes place at 5 p.m. in room 2111 of the Mona Campbell Building.
There will also be a voter registration booth in the Dal SUB from 12-8 p.m. on Monday, October 15.
Other events being planned are an activity connected with the Nocturne arts festival, a 鈥減hone booth鈥� display to encourage students to call their candidates and plenty more.
鈥淭hese candidates are there to talk to you,鈥� advises Glynn. 鈥淪tudents shouldn鈥檛 just sit back and wait for them to come and talk. Reach out if you have issues that you care about and want to know more.鈥�
To learn more visit the coalition鈥檚 website at
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