Parksville’s new city council would look a little different if elected by area elementary and high school students.
The students had a chance to participate via the Student Vote program by CIVIX, a national charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic education.
Students at Ballenas Secondary, Oceanside Elementary and Pass-Woodwinds Alternate School voted for Doug O’Brien as mayor, with 294 votes to incumbent Ed Mayne’s 268.
Chosen by the youngsters for council were Sean Wood (315), Frank Bailey (217), Lucky Butterworth (214), Adam Fras (207), Joel Grenz (201) and Mike Kelly (194).
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Students, including those at Errington Elementary and Nanoose Bay Elementary, also voted for their choice of School District 69 (Qualicum) trustees.
Eve Flynn was selected for Area E, winning 13 votes to Philip Perry’s 9. In Area G, Elaine Young and Carol Kellogg were elected with 275 and 268 votes, respectively, just ahead of Garry Pendergast’s 251.
Student Vote uses elections as a teachable moment and enables teachers to bring democracy alive in the classroom. The program lets students experience the voting process and cast ballots for the official candidates running in the election.
Full results of Student Vote 2022 are available on its website.
— NEWS Staff