As election day draws closer, you’ll likely see the Dalhousie Young Liberals around campus.
“We are a campus club associated with Young Liberals Canada and we are here to engage students about the political process and to fight for the Liberal cause,” says Adam Cheyne, society president.
Cheyne is a third-year student studying political science at Dal.
“I was starting my first year just at the tail end of the 2013 Nova Scotia Provincial Election, so that really got me interested,” he says. “I started attending meetings, getting involved, meeting lots of cool people, learning new things and standing up for things I believe in.”
One priority for Dal’s Young Liberals is to for students to become involved in politics and learn more about their own political system. This is often done through events on campus.
In March, the club co-hosted an event focusing on the importance of women in politics.
Attendees included the Hon. Kellie Leitch (Conservative Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, who is also a Dal alum) and the Hon. Joanne Bernard (Liberal MLA for Dartmouth North and Minister of Community Services, Minister responsible for the Disabled Persons Commission Act and Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act).
With all eyes on the lead up to the federal election, the importance of being politically aware is more in the spotlight than ever.
“Especially now in the election period I am incredibly passionate about having some change,” says Cheyne. “I am worried about the direction of this country at the moment, and I think it is a concern that many Canadians share with me.”
The scope of the Dalhousie Young Liberals is not restricted to the university campus. Cheyne is in charge of keeping contact with the Nova Scotia Young Liberals, as well as the National Executive, ensuring that the Dal club stays in contact with other clubs across the country.
“As president I oversee the executive officers from everything from communications to finance and to get everyone together and making sure we work smoothly and recruit new members,” says Cheyne.
“It is just amazing to be a part of the political process and support democracy and work towards a better future for our country.”
Cheyne says the society has been to a variety of ridings across the province to canvass and form connections with other Nova Scotia clubs and the Nova Scotia Young Liberals.
“The biggest benefit for me is that I get to be engaged in my school community, I get to be engaged with in the provincial community and the national community and talking about what matters to Canadians and to students,” says Cheyne.
“It is just amazing to be a part of the political process and support democracy and work towards a better future for our country.”
Meetings will be held every Wednesday evening until the federal election, at 7:00 p.m. at the University Club. The time and place may change, so Cheyne recommends that interested students follow @DalUYL on Twitter or like Dalhousie Young Liberals on Facebook.
This article is a part of the Gazette’s series about political clubs on campus. Next week we will be featuring the Dalhousie Progressive Conservative Club.
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