British Columbia students participate in local election simulations

Approximately 60,000 students across British Columbia participated in the Student Vote program, a non-partisan initiative organized by CIVIX to simulate local elections. The program provides elementary and high school students with hands-on experience in the democratic process, allowing them to learn about local government, explore candidate platforms, and act as election workers.

In the Cowichan region, students cast ballots for North Cowichan’s mayor and council, as well as Cowichan Valley Regional District directors. In North Cowichan, 64 per cent of student voters re-elected Rob Douglas as mayor. In Port Alberni, students at Tsuma-as Elementary School held a mock election after interviewing mayoral candidates, ultimately selecting Charles Mealey as their choice for mayor.

The initiative aims to foster active citizenship by teaching students to critically analyze community issues and engage respectfully with political figures.