Ben West on the Ballot
Capilano student and film director running for Vancouver Mayor

Nicole Burton, News Editor

Someone like Ben West usually doesn’t have his face
framed up next to grinning political heavyweights like
Sam Sullivan and Jim Green on the mantel of candi-
dates for mayoral elections. While some of the stark
contrast is due to different levels of experience and
contrasting campaigns—West is pushing for community
sustainability, improved public transportation, and the
environment—and he’s under 30. At least he says he is.

True: Vancouver mayoral candidates have a fair
share of “fringe” runners. Some promise us there will
be time to “laugh and cry together,” while others claim
they are on a mission from God to save the city.

But as a student and a longtime organizer with the
Capilano Students Union, West thinks that the experi-
ence he has gained to date on the political stage, for
better or for worse, has led him to make his decision to
run on the ballot this year.

The key points in his campaign (in turn, the points
of contention between West and his more serious
opposition) have received both media attention and a
strong following among younger voters. The more cre-
ative aspects of his campaign have also gained an audi-
ence with those who want to see change through art
and culture—and this thing Ben West refers to as
“fun.”

This week, West will be releasing a film about the
elections and his own Work Less Party’s (WLP) partici-
pation, called Alarm Clocks Kill Dreams. The Other Press
interviewed West to give our readers the skinny on the
film, as well as to provide insight into elections, politics,

 

and getting young people more involved.

THE OTHER PRESS: It’s not everyday that stu-
dents in Vancouver (or anywhere) can find one of
our own running for mayor. In what ways have
being a student, a young person, and a student
organizer with the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU)
influenced your approach to running for mayor?

WEST: Working in a student union for the last few
years and inside the Canadian Federation of Students-
provincially and nationally, I have learned a lot. I
learned about the realities of how politics work and
how it doesn’t work. These experiences lead me to want
to take an outside-of-the-box approach to politics.
Large established political parties, like any branded
institutional structure, are too focused on public rela-
tions and not enough on the true needs of communi-
ties. I have watched as funding for social services have
been stripped in this province and I have watched as
those focused on addressing this have sacrificed their
own morals in order to provide a unified message in
“solidarity.” What a functioning democratic structure
needs is openness and transparency and a space for true
debate and dialogue.

The CSU has provided me with a lot of opportunity to
experiment with different democratic structures and I
feel like this hands-on experience, as well as my less
positive experiences within other larger structures, has
been an invaluable learning experience.

OP: What parts of your platform are unique to
your campaign? What ways have you thought of
solving the problems that people in Vancouver
experience?

WEST: The Work Less Party wants to provide people
with more time to participate in democracy, go to
school, develop local arts and culture, and generally
enjoy their lives. We see two potential directions we
could move in. One is blindly continuing to grow our
economy and our communities in an un-sustainable
fashion. The other option is smart growth, less work
time, and a better designed, finely tuned economy based
inside of a living ecosystem paradigm.

OP: For the film you directed, Alarm Clocks Kill
Dreams—what is the premise of this film and how
does it relate to Vancouver’s upcoming elections?

WEST: Alarm Clocks Kill Dreams follows the candidates
for the Work Less Party (WLP) around to all candi-
dates’ debates, media stunts, and crazy fundraising par-
ties. It features naked painted people, great local music
from CR Avery, Third Eye Tribe, and others, as well as
some ideas that don’t usually make their way into the
political debate. The sub plot is my girl friend and I
arguing about whether I should run as a candidate for a
fringe party. People can watch the trailer on the WLP
website or they can come check out the world premier
at the Van East Cinema (Commercial Drive and 7th
Avenue, East Vancouver) at 8pm on Thursday,

 

November 10. It should be a fun night. There will be a
question and answer period with me and others from
the party. It will be followed up by an after hours party.
The screening will also feature some appearances by
other local political candidates and activist groups, and
some surprise “guerilla theatre” as well.

OP: In elections, young people generally do not
turn out in high numbers, from student union elec-
tions on up. Why do you think this is, and what are
some solutions to encouraging higher participation
of young people in politics?

WEST: Participation is so important. Turnout is bad, I
think, because people don’t have faith in the system and
they don’t have the time to participate. I think it is the
most important thing you can do to get involved in
local decision-making, even if it’s in a limited capacity.
You can have a big impact with a little effort.
The political struggles at your school are heated and
have a significant impact on your life and the lives of
other students. I like to start out by trying to lead by
example. When good stuff starts happening, people
have an interest in getting involved. Get involved in the
Douglas Students Union—make it what you want it to
be. Nothing makes people want to get involved more
than a belief that it will be worthwhile and rewarding.
My experience has been that...this participation in deci-
sion-making works towards making things better.

Alarm Clocks Kill Dreams will be opening at Van East
Cinema on November 10, 8pm. Tickets are $5-10, slid-
ing scale.

Check out more on West’s platform at the Work
Less Party’s website: www.worklessparty.org