YOUR FIRST POLITICAL ACT
Whether it was around the dinner table or in the voting booth, every political citizen had to start somewhere. Here are the origin stories you shared with us
Eleanor Alexander, Barrie, Ont.
At age 18, I organized a group of students for a small non-violent protest against cuts to public education. I was young but able to recognize the importance of the high-quality education I was receiving at Collingwood Collegiate Institute.
Rajiv Kalsi, Ottawa
I had just installed a toilet dam to save water when flushing, which prompted me to vote for the Green Party for the first time.
William G. Rogers, Cochrane, Ont.
Sadly the first political act that I recall is to never divulge my vote in case another party won and so unable to retaliate. Shameful!
Jaima Geller, Edmonton
I organized a local group as part of an international effort in the early ’90s to airlift a community out of Syria. Meetings were held. I wrote politicians and had a meeting with a federal MP. It taught me that when you act on your concerns things can be done.
LarryTill @LarryTill
Organizing boycott of the McDonald’s near my jr. high, when it started discriminating against students.
Shane Pope @shaaanepope
My first political act was the decision to volunteer & make change in my community at age 12.
Jen Pedersen @ottawa_jen
Started a “Save the Whales” club at age 8 & called Russian & Japanese embassies 2 lobby 4 whaling ban.
Kelsy Edgerton @kmedgerton
1st big political act was becoming a page in the #ableg. Learned about the Westminster System at young age & became inspired.
Ron Gray, Abbotsford, B.C.
My first political act was to picket the corner store, when the price of candy bars went from 5¢ to 8¢. I made a sign that read: “Don’t be a sucker, don’t be a dope. ¢ bars taste like soap.” My father was the manager of the store. He did not chastise me.
Véronique Herry @veronique_hs
My 1st political act was attending my 1st youth parliament despite being a year too young. Going sparked my love of #cdnpoli
Donald Main @WinterShorts
I think my first political act might have been starting to read the newspaper every day at lunch in Gr. 9.
Deirdre Leowinata @DLeowinata
My first political act was likely voting in a student election in middle school, where democracy wasn’t broken yet
Saleem Khan @saleemkhan
2005ET Mel Lastman, running for mayor: Want to be a politician? Me, 3: No! ML: Why? Me: Politicians lie! I don’t …!
Mayja Embleton @FoodMinion
I wrote a parody of “don’t you leave me” 2 protest the sale of the Drillers soccer team. My class sang it to Peter Pocklington.
Robert P. Briand, Chambly, Que.
In 1962, long before the Parti Québecois even existed, I exercised my right to vote for the first time by voting for the re-election of Jean Lesage’s Liberal government.
Lynn Gritzfeld @Gritz66890713
Breaking through protesting fellow students to meet PM Trudeau and share my view of Canada’s politics.
André Desrochers Brossard, Que.
Was it my first political act? Unlikely. Was it my best one? Possibly. In July 1999, after the initial showings of the (inept) Englishlanguage adaptation of the French sitcom Le Dîner de cons, a columnist in the Post exclaimed with delight that at last the famed icon was available in Canada. I asked the editor to remind his columnist that the original film had been breaking box-office records for months in Quebec, not yet a former part of Canada. Since neither deigned to reply, I concluded that I had made my point about Canadianness.
J.D.M. Stewart @jdmstewart1
In one of my first political acts decades ago, I wrote a letter to the editor. Still do it from time to time.
Howard Sato @howardsato
Listening to music by #TheClash #BillyBragg #Culture about the state of the world.
Leigh Bursey, Brockville, Ont.
My first step into democracy all started with punk rock. The Clash spoke with passion about oppression and class warfare. I was so inspired that I cut the sleeves off of my shirt and started a band. 1000 crappy songs and performances later I shifted gears and decided to affect change from inside. I was elected to my student council and then as city councillor. Now I am 28, recently re-elected, so in love with my city, and still a folk-punker.
Vass Bednar @VassB.
Going topless in grade one gym class because the boys could. Little did I know Gwen Jacob was going to bat for that right in the same year. #topfreedom
Scott A. Wolfe @ScottAWolfe
My first political act (that I recall) was lobbying Ottawa city council as a teenager to implement an antiracism policy.
Claude Genest, Lévis, Que.
Arguing for the no side and for Canada as a teenager in my high school in Lévis during the 1980 referendum.
ZofiaSonia Worotynec @immigranttalk
Getting booted out of Queen’s Park for supporting a low-income mothers group, c. 1987? #WestEndAlternative
Samuel Getachew @GetachewS
Voted with my $/ made it a habit of frequenting cafés that pay fair wages, @home and abroad, 2 their farmers/employees.
Katie W. Robinette, Toronto
I remember being very excited to vote as an 18 year old in the 1990 Ontario election. Being pro recycling, I voted for the Green Party and ended up being the reason why Bob Rae got elected with about 30% of the vote. I’ve been trying to make amends ever since. In university I was appalled by the actions of a handful of my fellow students who decided to throw raw macaroni from the public gallery in the House of Commons to protest something or other. Eager to do something to counter this, I signed up for the Campus Conservatives (then PCs) and have since volunteered for the Ontario PCs, the Wildrose, and the federal PCs, United Alternative, Canadian Alliance and now the CPC. Definitely a political junkie!
Michael Brisson @RMBrisson
Under 21 (no vote), in ’68, asked druggist for condoms, (illegal ’til ’69) as PET was preparing legalization.