Powell River Voices, an advocacy group, hopes it can boost voter turnout in the fall election.
The group is co-sponsoring a talk this Friday April 11, at Trinity hall, Powell River United Church, entitled “Why citizen engagement makes for better local government.” The speaker is Norman Gludovatz, an international specialist in promoting citizen participation in local politics and the civic election process. Gludovatz is the special projects coordinator at Columbia Institute, an institution that fosters individual and organizational leadership for inclusive, sustainable communities. He brings more than 10 years’ experience in public engagement and event organization.
“Gludovatz will be presenting on how we can engage more people to become interested and engaged in civic politics,” said event organizer Murray Dobbin. “It has the smallest voter turnout over any other level of politics.”
Voices is an organization with a goal to engage citizens in creative conversations and in taking action on issues affecting the community. “One of the group’s ongoing projects involves undertaking a community values survey,” Dobbin said. “We go door to door and talk about what sort of governance people would like to see. Civic governance is better when everyone is involved.”
Trish Cocksedge, spokesperson for Powell River Voices, said, “It’s just common sense to say that the more people are involved in governing their own community, the better the decisions will be. Turnout in civic elections in BC is very low so it is difficult for elected councils to really know what people want from their local governments.” Turnout in Powell River was 43 per cent in 2011. Councillors can get elected by fewer than 20 per cent of eligible voters, according to the group’s press release.
“We know that people want to be involved in determining the future of their community,” Cocksedge continued, “but unless that involvement is encouraged and made easy, many people just can’t find the time to navigate city hall.”
Gludovatz will begin his presentation at 7 pm. For more information, readers can contact Cocksedge at 604.485.5409 or Dobbin 604.485.7974.
