Grade 5 students at Pope John Paul II School had a chance to ask Kenora council hopefuls some questions at a meet and greet yesterday. The students held the talk as part of their curriculum which looks at the different levels of government.
"I think this is important because it's like anything else you teach, music, art, if you get it into them when they're young it becomes a passion." said Mayoral candidate Dan Reynard. "Not a lot of young people vote en masse so hopefully by the time these students get there they'll realize the importance and want to be a part of the process."
Reynard, who currently sits on city council, was joined by fellow councilman Rory McMillan and Rod McKay who is running for council in this election. Students prepared questions ahead of time that they wanted to ask.
Grade 5 student Lexi Wolke spoke after about what she took away from the meet and greet.
"I learned that they want to make Kenora a better place and why they want to run for this job," she said. Lexi also explained why she thinks it was important for the councillors to speak with her class.
"I think it's important so we can learn about them and maybe we can share this with our parents," she said.
Classmate Alex Ogemah explained what he would like to see the new council focus on.
"The addiction problem and the homeless problem," he said.
Overall, Reynard said he was impressed by the questions and comments the students brought forward.
"The questions were not what I expected. They were well thought out and some were very personal and touched at the heart of the matter with issues that are key in our community," he said.
The two Grade 5 classes will hold their own mock election on the same day as the municipal election. Between now and then they'll be researching the different candidates and looking into where they stand on issues that are important to them. They'll then cast their ballot like everyone else on Monday, October 22nd.