Queen’s Principal Daniel Woolf held a series of meetings with local federal election candidates over the past few weeks, with the goal of learning more about the platforms of each party, articulating Queen’s priorities, and strengthening relationships with local community leaders and the university.

“With the election close on the horizon, it was important for me to take the opportunity to discuss Queen’s agenda and current initiatives with the candidates,” Principal Woolf says. “We want to keep the communication lines open within the community and learn more about the policies and debates that will affect students and postsecondary education in the years to come.”

On separate occasions, Principal Woolf met with NDP candidate Daniel Beals, Conservative candidate Andy Brooke, Liberal candidate Mark Gerretsen and Green Party candidate Nathan Townend.

Principal Woolf – along with other executive heads of Ontario universities – will strive to work with student groups and electoral officials from all orders of government to promote youth participation in the electoral process. “I encourage all of our voting-eligible students to familiarize themselves with the candidates and party platforms and to get out and vote on Oct. 19 or in the advance polls. Make your voice heard,” he says.

On Queen’s campus, students can visit an information/registration booth in the Queen’s Centre (near the pharmacy) to ask questions and register to vote. The booth, hosted by local Elections Canada representatives, is open every weekday, 10 am–2 pm until Oct. 8.

Elections Canada also has a special section on its website for students and first-time voters. Included on the website is information on registering (whether in a student’s home riding or school riding), the four different ways to vote (on election day, in advance polls, at one of 400 Elections Canada offices across Canada, or by mail), and outreach on campus.