DORVAL – It’s not the real deal, but dozens of school children at Dorval Elementary got a chance to vote in a mock federal election.
The 86 kids at the Grade 5 and 6 level are part of a national campaign sanctioned by Elections Canada to learn about our country’s democratic tradition.
“It’s not really real, but we’re able to vote still, so it’s cool,” Trent Deschamps-Corner said.
The voting station was in the school’s library where official ballot boxes, voting booths and ballot sheets were provided by Elections Canada.
The school children had to line up with I.D. cards and have their names crossed off a list of registered voters just like adults are required to do at real voting stations.
And, similar to millions of Canadians, these kids have a wide range of political preferences.
“Well, I like, Stephen Harper,” Grade 5 student Jade Henderson said.
Another prefers the Prime Minister’s Liberal rival Justin Trudeau.
“His dad was a good Prime Minister,” said Grade 6 student Luca del Bosco.
This is the first time Dorval Elementary has simulated a federal election.
It was led by Grade 5 teacher Hélène Bourget.
“I think it’s a great way to teach democracy in our class,” she explained.
Dorval Elementary is one of 13 schools in the Lester B. Pearson School Board that’s holding mock elections.
“This is something that the teachers took on and ran with and got the students involved and I think if we were in a similar situation we would do it again,” said Erik Olsthoorn, the school principal.
The results will be sealed until next Tuesday when the teachers will release them in class and students can find out how closely their choices match those of their elders.
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