CANMORE – The Canmore Young Adult Network wants to move mountains by getting Canmore’s under 35 demographic out to vote in this year’s upcoming provincial election.
Being held for the second time after putting on a successful inaugural event during the 2017 municipal election, CYAN’s Move Mountains event features all three Banff-Kananaskis MLA candidates in a less formal, more individually engaging political event.
“We want it to be more of an engagement piece, because our big thing is that politicians are people,” said Tara Koenig, community development facilitator for CYAN.
“If you talk and have a conversation with them they are there to listen.”
The event is taking place next Friday (March 15) at Creekside Hall in the Canmore Senior’s Centre downtown.
Alberta Party candidate Brenda Stanton, United Conservative Party candidate Miranda Rosin and incumbent NDP candidate Cam Westhead will all be in attendance.
Each candidate will have an opportunity to briefly address the audience about their election platforms and then participate in a question and answer segment.
The night is also featuring live music, food and a cash bar.
“It’s in some ways a mingle and party too,” said CYAN member Zach Baxter. “So [attendees] will have time before and after to be able to have a conversation with Cam, Miranda and Brenda.”
The network also wants to raise awareness within the young adult community there is an election coming up.
“Whenever we say we’re hosting an event to encourage young adults to vote, the response has only been positive,” said Koenig.
According to Statistics Canada, voters aged 18 to 24 had a 67 per cent turnout rate to the polls in 2015, while those aged 25-34 had a 70 per cent turnout rate.
The average turnout rate in Alberta in 2015 was 77 per cent.
“Our crowd and demographic might not see the need to vote, especially if they’re only living here for a short amount of time,” she said.
“Political advocacy isn’t only for politicians.”
CYAN has 150 tickets for sale at a price of $10, with all of the proceeds going towards the costs of putting the event on.
Go to cyancanmore.ca/movemountains for more information, or to purchase tickets.
