There’s a saying that all politics is local – and you can’t get much more local than the municipal elections that took place across the province Oct. 17.
Earlier this month, the Grade 10 students at King David High School (KDHS) got a taste of what it means to be involved: politically, civically and Jewishly. The school, along with CJPAC – the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee – organized a Day of Political Action, which included two training sessions and one mega volunteer morning.
For a couple of hours, on the morning of Oct. 6, the entire Grade 10 class of 40 students traded their regular school routine for a direct experience in democracy, proving that, even though these students are not old enough to vote, they don’t have to sit on the political sidelines.
Some students headed out into neighbourhoods to knock on doors, while others picked up phones to connect with voters – and they weren’t all working for the same candidate. Students volunteered on campaigns of their choice, spanning four municipal parties and 15 different candidates. The goal wasn’t to tell students what to think politically or whom to support, reflecting CJPAC’s multipartisan approach to political engagement.
The general takeaway? Be inspired. Step up.
“Person-to-person interaction with the election candidates was a privilege for the student and for the parent volunteers, giving all of us an opportunity to witness firsthand the intricacies of a healthy democracy,” said parent volunteer Matthew Seftel.
CJPAC’s training sessions had covered the ins and outs of political volunteering – from how to approach voters and ask about their voting intentions to the all-important rule of never walking across someone’s lawn. The goal was to show students that being an engaged citizen means more than casting a ballot every few years.
“At King David, we teach our students that it is important to have issues you are passionate about,” said Dr. Seth Goldsweig, head of school at KDHS. “It is important to be engaged in the political process … and to learn about candidates’ positions on the issues they care about. Being engaged in politics can help to bring about the world they want to see in the future. In addition, being involved in politics gives our community a voice.”
The program was the brainchild of KDHS’s Rabbi Stephen Berger, who, along with CJPAC’s Kara Mintzberg, launched the first Political Action Day during the 2024 provincial election. King David is the only Jewish school in Canada that is doing this type of engagement.
“It was so amazing to see firsthand what it is like to campaign for an election, and I will remember this forever,” said Grade 10 student Alma.
If any Canadian Jewish students in grades 10-12 want to get more politically engaged, applications are open until Oct. 30 for CJPAC’s Generation Program, which includes a nearly free three-day trip to Ottawa. To apply, go to cjpac.ca/generation. With questions, email me at jcordes@cjpac.ca.
Jill Cordes is the BC community outreach and engagement coordinator for CJPAC (Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee).
