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Participating as a citizen 1n
the city and beyond

» Having a say in the way things are

   

; Cazzy Lewchuk
Staff Writer

Wwe the municipal
elections coming up
this month in the greater
Vancouver area, residents
have an opportunity to have
a direct say in how things are
run. In addition to voting for
the mayor, Vancouver citizens
will elect city council members,
park board commissioners,
and school board trustees.
These elected officials will
undoubtedly fulfill all their
promises, never sell out or
be caught in a scandal with
outside interests, and vastly
improve the area of their
governance—no matter what
their partisan affiliations are.
All cynicism and sarcasm
aside, it’s very important to
vote. Although not mandatory
(like in few countries such
as Australia), the democratic
right to choose elected officials
is something that was fought
for repeatedly by many of
our ancestors. In addition,
millions of people around
the world today campaign
daily for the right to cast their
ballot—many being arrested or
even executed in the process.
There are few better ways to
express your views, participate
in the democratic process,
and fulfill your civic duties
than by just showing up to the

Seriously, the right to vote is
something far too many people
are willing to and have died for,
so don’ let it go to waste. Even
if you want to spoil your ballot
or vote for none of the above,
you still should cast your vote.
That said, besides
voting there are many
ways to participate in your
community—whether it be
the size of a town ora country.
I truly believe that the way
we live our lives and the
decisions we make as citizens,
consumers, and individuals
are far more important and
effective than the names we

: check off on a voting ballot.
: One vote makes a difference—
: but it’s still only one vote.

How much do you care

: about the things that happen

: in your community? How

: much should you care about

: the things that happen in

: your community? Those are

: questions we've all asked

: ourselves and every one of

: us has a different answer.

: Ultimately, the answer should

: only come from within

: yourself; I also believe you

: should never let someone else

: have final say over how you live
: your life—even if it’s a famous
: author ora celebrity who might :
: have written a convincing

: article in your local college
: newspaper.

Simply being consciously

: aware of ongoing issues

: can serve as a tool of active

: citizenship. Keeping at least

: reasonably up-to-date about

: current events will not only

: make you well-informed and

: conscientious, but will also

: help you understand what you
: can change. Finding out the

? news from a reliable source

: (i.e., a daily newspaper instead
: of your Facebook timeline)

: serves to inform what’s going

? onin the community and what
: the major problems are at the

: moment.

It’s best to figure out

: specifically what you care
: about the most. In a world
: full of crap, it’s unrealistic
: and likely too stressful to
polling station on Election Day. : take on more than a tiny

: fraction. It’s much easier to

: focus your efforts to a cause

: that truly needs your support.

: If you care about animal

: welfare, volunteer at a local

: animal shelter, or become a

: vegetarian. If you’re worried

: about poverty in Africa, find

: out how to get involved with

: legitimate charities that are

: dedicated to sustainability and
: empowerment. Activism and

: organizations exist for almost

: every cause you can think of,

: and they’re all made possible

: by the work of average citizens.
: A government is run for the

: people, by the people, which

: is why it’s important that

: non-elected people do their
fair share. We are all part of a

: democracy and government—
: whether it’s the governing of

: our households, workplaces, or
neighbourhood.

Direct conversation with

: politicians or other powerful

: people can also do wonders.

: Finding your local office and

: calling or visiting to discuss

: an issue important to you isa

: way to ensure your views are

: directly heard and understood.
: Speaking to a CEO, law

: enforcement official, or head

: of an organization can affect

things more than one might

: think. Taking initiative and a

: direct approach can reduce the
: bureaucracy and frustration

: often associated with trying to

: be listened to. It’s true that an

: authority figure may not have

: direct power or may even refuse
: your requests, but you will

: almost always be listened to.
Taking the effort is the key.

Getting involved in the

: local community does not

: always mean having a specific

: cause or issue. Simply going

: out once ina while and actively
participating serves to better

: the place and cement your

: position as a citizen. Shop at

: a local business and attend a

: community event—a festival, a

: workshop, or an art production.
: Communities are meaningless

: without the people who engage
: within them, and they offer so

: much in the way of services

: and morale. Participating not

: only rewards the communal

: efforts of the other citizens who
: work to organize the event,

: but allows provides motivation
: for them to occur again in the

: future. Tell your friends about

: the things you're participating

: in that interest you. It’s all

: about engagement.

We all have to pay taxes,

: live ina community, and

: navigate through the highs

: and lows. The least we can

: do is be active citizens within
: the society, bettering the

: experience for all. If nothing
: else, you'll feel better about

: yourself.

    

Have an idea?
Contact: Chitwan Kohsla, Features Editor
M features@theotherpress.ca

www.theotherpress.ca

 

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