Democracy is back in action in Airdrie!
Oct. 5th’s all candidate’s forum at Bert Church Theatre hosted nearly 600 residents, the most that have ever turned out.
Interested citizens took time out of their busy schedules to listen to what candidates had to say, ask questions about hot-button issues and show their support or disgust for those seeking office.
This may not seem like a huge feat, except when you take into account that last election’s voter turnout was a dismal 12 per cent. The forum in 2007 didn’t even fill Bert Church Theatre, while this year’s turnout was standing room only in the theatre, cafeteria and hallway.
It may have taken the threat of a double digit tax increase, but we are glad that something finally caught residents’ attention and spurred them to become informed about the people who represent them.
Maybe now that residents are showing interest, the Provincial government will start taking Airdrie seriously when it comes to important issues such as schools and 24-hour health care.
We also hope this interest in local government leads to greater community involvement, solidifying Airdrie’s identity and dispelling the myth that we are a bedroom community for our neighbours to the south.
We can assume all those who came to the forum will vote, but we need them to convince their friends and neighbours who didn’t attend to pick up the phone, boot up the computer or talk to the candidates face-to-face about who they are, what they stand for and what they can do to make the city of Airdrie an even better place to live.
Take matters into your own hands, get out there and vote.
