Grassroots activists are rallying marginalized communities ahead of the upcoming municipal election in Edmonton. The University of Alberta Students’ Union has assembled a team of approximately 150 volunteers to urge fellow students to commit to voting. They are stationed on campus, conducting classroom visits, and launching a social media drive. The union aims to leverage these student pledges to spotlight campus-related concerns like housing, transportation, and cost of living. Additionally, they are ensuring students are informed about the voting process, locations, and deadlines by sending them reminders.
Pedro Almeida, the president of the students’ union, expressed the desire to gather a large number of student pledges to demonstrate the student body’s engagement to elected officials. The union is part of the Edmonton Student Alliance (ESA), which represents over 110,000 students and recently hosted a mayoral forum.
Another active group, the YEG Muslim Vote, with new leadership, is striving to advocate for policies that benefit Muslim and other ethnic communities through the upcoming city council. The group’s social media campaign garnered early engagement, with discussions revolving around various topics such as affordability, housing, transit, and the conflict in Gaza.
While the conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant casualties, a recent ceasefire and hostage deal were welcomed by Israelis and Palestinians. Shiza Wasi, the executive director of YEG Muslim Vote, emphasized the importance of candidates aligning with community sentiments on issues like the Gaza conflict and Epcor’s additional fee related to an Israeli water meter-reading device.
The group has conducted interviews with most mayoral and council candidates, and their online forum attracted over 30 aspiring school trustees. Wasi stressed the need for candidates to fulfill promises made to the community during their term in office.
In a different initiative, an organization dedicated to promoting leadership and community engagement held its inaugural forum. Zohreh Saher, president of interVivos, highlighted the organization’s focus on engaging underrepresented groups in discussions with local experts. Scarlet Bjornson, from the Bissell Centre, emphasized the importance of public safety discussions that involve both law enforcement and social services.
The municipal election is scheduled for October 20, providing an opportunity for citizens to make their voices heard in shaping the future of Edmonton.