Junior High

After volunteering in my own community and getting to know those around me, young and not-so-young, I came to the conclusion that each of us, every moment of the day, can be peace-community builders. As an immigrant myself, I know what it means to feel ‘on the outside’ and I’ve decided to start my own ‘Peace Welcome Club for youth from 4-18’. The ages might surprise you but we are all part of the same human family, no matter what our age is. We can all learn from each other and do many things together; get to know one another; help our community and our environment. All in all together we can build a better world!

Video provided courtesy of Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC) and Harnoor Gill. Find out more about OCIC’s Global Changemaker Youth Ambassadors. Find out more about Harnoor Gill and the Peace Welcome Club.

What opportunities do you have to volunteer in your community?

Research by Samara Canada shows that many Canadians have stopped using their political voice; nearly 40% of Canadians report they have not had even one conversation about politics in the last year.

They found that volunteering on a political campaign—or even voting—is unlikely to be anyone’s first political action. However, just talking about politics and discussing community issues in everyday life can lead to an increase in participation.

What do you think your political voice is?

Find out more about Democracy Talks on the Democratic Engagement Exchange.

Grade 7 students in Mr. Martinez’s math and religion class are a little closer now. The students – who all attend the Spanish program at St. Kevin Junior High – have revealed their personal stories, sharing with each other what makes them different.

“There are so many kids here who just need to know that they are accepted, that they are OK, they are loved,” teacher Rafael Martinez said.

In October, Martinez dyed T-shirts in his bathtub and brought them to school. He encouraged his students to write the hurtful names they’ve been called on the front of the pink shirts. On the back they penned the phrase “born this way.”

The anti-bulling lesson went far beyond Martinez’s expectations. The students stood before each other, some opened up about their intimate struggles.

What impact does bullying have on opportunities to participate?

Slugoski, K. (February 22, 2016). Junior high students create own pink t-shirts to help stop bullying.

A group of junior high students break down barriers by insisting that their school needed an everyone washroom.

“An “everyone washroom” is a gender-neutral space that’s open to anyone regardless of gender identity or expression. Through the eyes of the youth, the concept of a gender-neutral washroom has always been easy to understand.

“It’s just a bathroom to me, if you got-to-go you got-to-go,” said Jessie Homes, an eighth grader GSA member.

But having a gender-neutral washroom makes a huge difference for transgendered or gender-questioning people. And the GSA students wanted an “everyone washroom” to support a transgendered student.”

How does the idea of breaking down barriers relate to opportunities to participate? What barriers do you see?

MacLean A. (June 24, 2016). North End Junior High breaks down barriers with ‘everyone washroom’.

Find out how one young woman changed the world. Malala Yousafzai insisted she had the right to an education. Find out more about her inspiring story on the Malala Fund website.

Photo Credit: ©Hagen411 | Dreamstime.com

How does Malala’s story inspire you?

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada released a survey in 2013 that shows 83 percent of Canadian youth feel they can make a difference in the world when loved and supported by family and friends.

How do you feel about your ability to make a difference?

Many communities face issues of poverty and homelessness. The Ladybug Foundation was started by 5-year-old Hannah Taylor, who was upset after seeing a man eat from a garbage dumpster. It has grown into a foundation that advocates for the basic human rights of shelter and food.

What does it mean to advocate? What is the power that one person has to bring about change?

The background photo shows students of all ages demonstrating on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in 1965 to influence the government decision on the new Canadian flag.

Photo Credit: Copyright assigned to Library and Archives Canada by copyright owner Duncan Cameron

Are protests and demonstrations evidence of democracy? Why? How do you think protests would affect government decision-making?

Canada’s flag debate sparked demonstrations, protests and controversy. Some Canadians wanted Canada to keep the British Union Jack while others wanted a new symbol of Canadian independence. This debate encouraged many Canadians to get involved and voice their opinion before the Canadian government finally decided on the flag. Find out more in CBC’s website on The Great Flag Debate.

Why do you think the decision about Canada’s new flag in the 1960s sparked so much controversy?

Democracy and elections are often considered to be connected ideas. The right to vote is a fundamental principle of democracy. Watch this video to learn about elections at the three levels of government in Canada.

What connections do you see between democratic principles and the act of voting?

Canadians on Citizenship is a public opinion survey conducted by the Environics Institute, Maytree Foundation, the CBC and RBC. From new citizens and permanent residents to those born in Canada, approximately 2,300 were asked to share their opinions on what it means to think, feel and act like a Canadian citizen.

What do you think citizenship looks like, sounds like and feels like from the results of this citizenship survey?

The United Nations believes that the values of freedom, respect for human rights and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage are essential elements of democracy. In turn, democracy provides the natural environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights.

The International Day of Democracy encourages people around the world to review the state of democracy.

What do you think the state of democracy is in Canada? In your community?

Democracy is not just something that occurs when there is election. The choice to participate is one that everyone makes on a daily basis. However, elections are an extremely important aspect of a democracy. Although elections happen every four years, the electoral process in ongoing.

Elections Alberta ensures that the process works as well as possible. In the first year after an election, the electoral process is reviewed and reports are written. In the second year, preparations are started for the next election. In the third year, programs and procedures are tested and materials required for the election are gathered. Year four is election year!

How do you think elections provide opportunities for citizens to interact with their communities?

This photo shows Woodman Junior High School students in Calgary, Alberta, who held a protest march to be allowed to have a high school dance.

Photo Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-2864-5366

In what other ways do you think youth have opportunities to express their opinions?

Younger individuals had the highest volunteering participation rates. In 2013, according to the GSS data on giving, volunteering and participating, 66% of youth aged 15 to 19 volunteered. This compared with 48% for individuals aged 35 to 44, who had the second-highest rate of volunteering. Young volunteers, however, tend to contribute fewer hours than their older counterparts.

To what extent do you think volunteering should be part of living in a democracy?

Source: Turcotte, M. (2015). Political participation and civic engagement of youth. Statistics Canada.

Canada’s constitution was signed by Queen Elizabeth in 1982. Why was this important? The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of the Constitution Act of 1982. Before 1982, Canada’s constitution was called the British North America Act of 1867. It could not be changed without the approval of British Parliament. When the Constitution Act of 1982 was signed by Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, it was patriated. Many commonly describe this as bringing the constitution home.

Photo Credit: Robert Cooper / Library and Archives Canada / e008300499

How do you think the repatriation of the constitution affected views of citizenship?

Different levels of government have different responsibilities. What level matters most to you?
(Source: Apathy is Boring)

Check out the information in Citizenship in the Canadian Encyclopedia.

What evidence can you find of rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship?

Much of the public debate about Canadian citizenship has focused on whether the current balance between rights and responsibilities is appropriate. When asked, most Canadians believe there is a good balance those two elements of citizenship. Two-thirds (65%) say the current balance is about right, compared to two in ten (21%) who say citizens have too many rights and one in ten (10%) who say they have too many responsibilities.

What do you think the balance between rights and responsibilities should be?

Source: Environics Institute (2012). Canadians on Citizenship: The first national survey on what it means to be a citizen in Canada: p. 17.

Ideally every jurisdiction in Canada would have citizens’ initiative law or politician recall laws, where if enough signatures are collected, either a referendum or recall vote is triggered. In the meantime, citizens have the power to influence decisions if they all work together at the same time: thousands of people targeting the right politicians on one issue.

~ Scott Hennig, vice-president of communications of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation

In Kielburger, C. & M. (April 3, 2013). Have your say: How can average citizens influence government decision-making between elections? The Globe and Mail.

On April 7, 2022, the Citizen Initiative Act and Recall Act came into force in Alberta. This legislation enables eligible electors to apply for initiative petitions and recall petitions. Elections Alberta administers the process for initiative petitions and recall petitions for the Members of Legislative Assembly.

Protestors voiced their opinion about the election fraud issue in the 2012 federal election, demanding election reforms. In this election, a number of voters received robocalls that directed them to the wrong polling station. Additionally, the Conservative Party did not follow its spending limits.

Photo Credit: ©Paulmckinnon | Dreamtime.com

 Why do you think the Election Act sets spending limits for all political parties involved in an election campaign?

Create pressure on elected leaders without crossing the line into lawbreaking and violence, so that both your message and your tactics resonate with broader public sentiment. Social media campaigns, demonstrations and peaceful occupation of public spaces will tap into broader strains of public discontent or desire for change.

~ Keith Neuman, executive director of the Environics Institute

In Kielburger, C. & M. (April 3, 2013). Have your say: How can average citizens influence government decision-making between elections? The Globe and Mail.

Thousands of Facebook likes for a cause or issue is helpful, but ultimately passive. Direct engagement with elected officials is key: Use technology to directly communicate to politicians – [through] e-mail, text, phone calls, tweets, comments – to influence policy outcomes.

~ Brett Bell, founder of Grassroots Online

In Kielburger, C. & M. (April 3, 2013). Have your say: How can average citizens influence government decision-making between elections? The Globe and Mail.

In a survey conducted by Leger in March 2023, Alberta voters identified the cost of living and improving the delivery of health care as their top two priorities. The third and fourth ranked issues were growing the economy and tackling social issues. Other top issues included diversifying the economy, improving the K-12 education system, controlling government spending, climate change, unemployment, the provincial debt, and building or renovating hospitals.

How do you think these issues influenced the outcome of the 2023 provincial election?

Canada’s chief electoral officer Marc Mayrand says: “Democracy isn’t something to be practised once every four years on election day.” He urges us to stay informed, share our views with others and engage our local government representatives, because “even though it doesn’t always appear so, he or she will pay attention to what you say.”

In Kielburger, C. & M. (April 3, 2013). Have your say: How can average citizens influence government decision-making between elections? The Globe and Mail.

Alberta had a provincial sales tax in 1936 and 1937 – a 3-per-cent hit called a tax on “ultimate purchases.”

It was part of a broad set of unexpected policies sprung on the public by the radical Social Credit government under Bill Aberhart after the 1935 election. Public outrage forced the Socreds to rescind it.

Aberhart had promised voters a monthly $25 “basic dividend” – equivalent to $450 in 2016 currency – but introduced a sales tax instead. And no dividend.

Not that Alberta was not already taxing goods. It collected revenue on the sales of furs, amusements, coal, electricity, pipelines, betting, telephones, land, tobacco and liquor – the “sin” taxes. And on gasoline.

The province languished in debt for the rest of the Dirty Thirties, running deficit budgets well into the 1940s.

Petroleum is the reason Alberta currently has no PST.

The discovery of massive quantities of crude oil in 1936 in Turner Valley, southwest of Calgary, set Alberta on its way to being, per capita, the richest economy in Canada….

For generations, the people of Alberta have given their elected officials a clear mandate: Play the petroleum-income lottery instead of taxing us fairly. And it has worked – most of the time.

What evidence does this article provide of voter influence? How do you think voter attitudes have influenced election results over time?

Finch, D. (May 20, 2016). Why Alberta deserves a provincial sales tax. The Globe and Mail.

The First Nations Elections Act came into force on April 2, 2015. The Act was developed collaboratively with First Nations organizations to bring about improvements to the election processes of First Nations across Canada.

This legislation provides an option to First Nations for leadership selection. To find out more, go to Leadership Selection in First Nations on the Government of Canada Indigenous Services Canada website.

Check out a comparison of the American and Canadian electoral process in American and Canadian Election Laws: Top 10 Differences.

What similarities can you find? What differences are most important?

As part of the War Measures Act, all Canadian citizens were required to be registered. This card states, “This certificate must always be carried upon the person of the registrant.” The registration certificates were also used for elections. Ethel is registered as to her Electoral District (Peace River) and her Polling Division (Spirit River).

Today, voters must prove their identity and current physical address to vote in Alberta. To do this, voters can provide one piece of identification, such as their driver’s license or Alberta identification card, or two pieces of identification both containing their name and with one showing current physical address, such as a utility bill and student identification card, or have another elector vouch for them.

Visit elections.ab.ca/VoterID for the current list of identification authorized for use in provincial elections, including more information on the vouching process.

Photo Credit: South Peace Regional Archives GPR 0597-2014.082.15

Why do you think voter identification can be an issue during elections?

An election takes a lot of preparation. Returning Officers are responsible for the recruitment and appointment of the front-line election officers who staff advance voting and Election Day voting locations. They recruit workers by engaging with community groups and contacting Albertans with previous enumeration or election experience. Returning Officers and Trainers receive special training to prepare them to train election officers, including site supervisors, registration officers, voting officers, record clerks, information officers, and ballot box clerks.

Photo Credit: City of Edmonton Archives EA-600-3166

What role does Elections Alberta play in the electoral process? Why do you think it is necessary to train electoral officers before an election?

How does the process of calling an election work? Here are some interesting facts and details from Student Vote:

• The Canada Elections Act was amended in 2007 to incorporate fixed-date election legislation and general elections are now to be held on the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following the previous election.
• Elections can still be held earlier than scheduled if the government loses the confidence of the legislature. The governor general also retains the ability to dissolve parliament at any time on the advice of the prime minister.
• An election call is also informally known as “dropping the writ.” In order for an election to occur, the Governor General directs the Chief Electoral Officer to issue a formal order that calls for an election to be held.
• While there is no fixed date for when the writs must be issued, the amount of time between the writ drop and election day must be at least 36 days.

Student Vote runs student elections for students under the voting age when there are federal, provincial, territorial and municipal elections. Check out the results of Student Vote Alberta.

The background photo shows workers in the Edmonton Bulletin office, counting and tallying the results of the August 17, 1948 provincial election.

Photo Credit: City of Edmonton Archives EA-600-1337j

Voters have four options to vote in Alberta.

• Special ballot voting can be used by electors who are unable to vote in person on Election Day or during advance voting. Special ballots can be completed by mail or in person at the local returning office.
• Advance voting locations are established by the Returning Officer in each electoral division. During advance voting, electors may choose to vote at any advance voting location in the province. Advance voting takes place on the Tuesday through Saturday of the week prior to Election Day.
• Mobile voting provides on-site voting services to residents at supportive living and long-term care facilities, in-patients at hospitals and treatment centres, and people receiving services at emergency shelters and community support centres.
• Election Day voting locations are open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Every voter is assigned to a voting location based on where they live. On Election Day, voters can only vote at their assigned voting location.

How do you think multiple voting options can increase voter turnout? Do you think there are other options that should be made available to voters?

Federal, provincial, and municipal elections have offered mobile voting for many elections. This photo shows a returning officer helping a Calgary voter during an Alberta provincial election.

Currently, mobile voting is offered at:

• hospitals and treatment centres,
• supportive living and long-term care facilities, and
• emergency shelters or community support centres.

Facilities must have at least ten electors who are inpatients, residents or receiving services at the facility to be eligible for a mobile voting station. Where consultation with facility staff determine the service to be appropriate, a voting officer and a record clerk, along with a facility representative, set up a stationary a fixed location voting station, go to bed-to-bed, or both, depending on the situation.

Mobile voting can occur on any of the days established for advance voting and/or on Election Day.

Photo Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-5600-6293c

In what other ways does the electoral process provide access to vote? What other ways do you think access should be provided?

Elections Alberta expanded its social media presence for the 2015 provincial election to encourage more citizens to vote. However, the Fair Elections Act passed in 2014 eliminated Election Canada’s ability to run campaigns that promote voting and political involvement in federal elections. The federal government justified the law by saying that the role of an election agency is to inform citizens where and when to vote and what identification to bring.

What role do you think election agencies should play in encouraging political participation and involvement? Why do you think this?

This year, I participated in Student Vote with my school. I’d never heard of such a process, and I was really excited. Student Vote allowed us to experience what voting is like and even vote for the candidate we support in our school’s riding. Because we are under the age of majority, our votes didn’t count for the actual election, but they were tallied up along with all the other participating schools across Canada to analyze how youth feel about their country.

Before election day we got into groups and prepared presentations on different party platforms. The week before voting, we presented to the class, and it was amazing to hear all the different issues that impact Canadians and the variety of views that come with them. You can get ready to vote by understanding how important every single voice is, following an easy election process and being an informed citizen.

Unfortunately, I heard some students in my school saying that they didn’t care about Student Vote because it doesn’t count for the actual election. Others said that even when they grow up there is no point in voting, because their one voice in so many won’t affect anything.

The truth is, every vote counts. After the 2015 federal election it was evident how every single vote matters. A candidate in one of the ridings won by only 80 votes. If those 80 people hadn’t come out to vote, their voice wouldn’t have been heard. Anyone can say that their voice doesn’t count, but without citizens speaking out, Canada wouldn’t be about the people. Voting is a very important part of our democracy and every voice matters.

Ghalia Aamer Edmonton, Alberta
2^nd Place Winner of National Democracy Challenge 2015

Elections can have their own story. Candidates and political parties make promises and promote their views based on issues that are important. Citizens choose who they want to represent them by voting. The government is formed as a result of the election. Check out the 2023 Alberta provincial general election from a student point of view at Student Vote Alberta.

In what other ways can youth participate politically in a democratic society?

Click on the Voterlink logo to find out how online voter registration happens.

What does it take to be a voter in Alberta?

The Don’t Let Others Decide for You advertising campaign was used by Elections Alberta to encourage Albertans to vote in the 2019 provincial general election. Samples of previous Elections Alberta advertising campaigns are available on their website.

What message does this ad send to voters?

Elections Alberta used video messages such as this to encourage citizens to take the time to vote in the 2012 provincial election.

What role do you think political parties should have to encourage people to vote?

Before the 1970s, the voting age in most democracies was 21. During the 1970s, many lowered their voting age to 18.

Investigate the voting age in different countries. Go to the Central Intelligence Agency Library World Factbook to see when you can vote if you are a citizen of different countries around the world.

Why do you think the voting age was lowered across different democracies in the 1970s? What assumptions about youth do you think minimum voting age requirements make?

Elections are an important aspect of a democracy. Some people think that making voting compulsory, or mandatory, would ensure the full participation of citizens. Other people think that a free, democratic society should give citizens the choice of whether or not to vote.

Mandatory voting would ask better of these citizens; that they take the time to become informed and cast a ballot. And in becoming informed, they might learn that voting is in their best interest.

-Lisa Young, University of Calgary

It’s unlikely that forcing citizens to vote will do anything to address the causes of their disengagement [or lack of participation…A single] focus on voter turn-out obscures the fact that democracy exists beyond election day. Genuine re-engagement requires focus in between elections.

-Alison Loat, Samara Canada

Try an internet search, using the search terms “mandatory voting Canada” and “mandatory voting Australia” to find other perspectives and opinions. Compare the perspectives and opinions you find.

Lowering the voting age to 16 is not a new idea. In some countries like Brazil, Austria and Scotland, people aged 16 and up can vote. Some Canadians support this idea. Others oppose it.

What do you think?

Jeff Coffman, a city councillor from Lethbridge, wants to lower the legal voting age from the current 18.

…research actually shows that the younger a person votes, the greater the [likelihood] that they will actually keep on being a voter throughout their life…. So this is about training a group of 16- and 17-year-olds how to be democratic citizens.

Civic elections are a great place to start, because teenagers use city services. They go to school, walk and drive on roads, take the bus and use libraries and recreational facilities.

I think kids nowadays have greater maturity than we give them credit for and they certainly have greater access to knowledge and information than what we did in my generation.

CBC News Calgary (September 23, 2015). Alberta cities vote against lowering voting age to 16.

Some Canadians are against the idea of lowering the voting age from 18 to 16, including councillor Andre Chabot from Calgary and Jamie Cutler from Claresholm.

People who vote at a young age might become lifelong voters, but there is no data that suggests this would result in any sort of reasonable increases in voter turnout overall.

Kids as young as 16 need to be out playing football or figuring out what they’re doing for the weekend. There’s enough things in the world taking kids away from being kids. We should just leave the adult world to the adults.

Ferguson, E. (September 23, 2015). Municipal leaders vote against lowering voting age for local elections: Calgary Herald.

Some countries have passed laws that require citizens to vote. Belgium was one of the first in 1892. In these countries, voting is considered a duty.

Source: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

What are some example of countries have compulsory voting? How does the voter turnout rate compare between countries with compulsory voting and those without?