SASKATOON – A new partnership in the province hopes to further educate Saskatchewan students on the democratic process.
Elections Saskatchewan and the Diefenbaker Canada Centre have collaborated to provide the democracy-themed program ‘Your Voice Matters’ to students across the province.
The initiative premiered today at the University of Saskatchewan’s Diefenbaker Building, where local elementary students participated in a mock election.
“We want to focus on Saskatchewan and how we can encourage young citizens to become full grown citizens and become part of the electoral process,” said Michael Boda, Saskatchewan’s chief electoral officer.
The program will feature four different modules that are targeted at students from Grade 4 to 8 across the province. It will be run out of the Diefenbaker Building; however educators will take the message across Saskatchewan.
“It’s essential that young citizens become educated in the processes of elections and to understand that this is their province,” said Boda.
“I am thrilled to see the youth of Canada, Saskatchewan and indeed our city of Saskatoon, becoming engaged with politics,” said Gordon Barnhart, U of S Interim President.
Grade 7 students from Brunskill School took part in the event Tuesday. Three groups of students created political parties and gave platform speeches to their classmates. The children then voted and a winning team was declared.
“Young people want a voice,” said Navod Madampage, a Brunskill student who was a part of the party that won the mock election.
“It’s good to educate for general knowledge and for people that want to be in the government, it’s good as a starter,” he added.
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