CHESTERMERE – With the official date of the provincial election called for Monday, April 23, members of the YELL (Youth Encouraging Lasting Leadership) group quickly got to work in organizing an all-candidates forum.
The forum will be held on Friday, April 13 at 7 p.m. at the Chestermere Recreation Centre, and all three candidates for the Chestermere – Rocky View riding will be present.
Ted Morton is presenting the Progressive Conservative party, Nathan Salmon is representing the New Democratic Party, and Bruce McAllister is representing the Wildrose Alliance party.
“Here at YELL and The Town of Chestermere, we believe that the youth are an incredibly important aspect of society, they are the ones who will lead us tomorrow, they are the ones who will set the stage for the next generation,” said Brennan Dressler, junior youth leader with Chestermere Community Services. “Two years ago we provided services at the local all-candidates forum for the municipal election.
“The candidates were asked questions about what they plan to provide for the youth of Town Chestermere. The experience allowed youth to begin formulating their own thoughts and ideas about politics.”
Dressler said, “With this year’s all-candidates forum, we are exposing them to the people who influence a broader spectrum, one that encompasses not only their own community, but that of the entire province.
“The youth have already grown leaps and bounds within our program and we hope that this experience will promote that growth, allowing them to truly become the leaders of tomorrow.”
The forum event is not a debate, but is instead a forum in which constituents are given the opportunity to meet and ask questions of their candidates.
There will be refreshments served as well as a half hour meet and greet with the candidates.
Once again, the 2012 election is on Monday, April 23. The polls will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For complete election details visit www.elections.ab.ca.
To be eligible to vote in an Alberta provincial election, a person must reside in the polling subdivision in which they seek to vote, and must be a Canadian citizen, be at least eighteen years of age and be ordinarily resident in Alberta for six months prior to polling day.
Advance Polls will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21. The local Advance Poll locations will be at the Chestermere Recreation Centre.
For more information about each of the local candidates, visit their websites:
Nathan Salmon (NDP) – albertandp.ca/nathansalmon
Ted Morton (PC) – tedmorton.ca
Bruce McAllister (Wildrose) – brucemcallister.ca
