Political Actors

Want to become a more active citizen but feel stuck? You are not alone, says Sabreena Delhon, ’04 BA. As chief executive officer of the Samara Centre for Democracy — a non-partisan charity that advances civic engagement in Canada — she is aware of the barriers to getting involved, like feeling intimidated or overwhelmed or simply disenchanted by screaming political headlines and social media comments.

“But we are very privileged to live in a democracy, and we want to take care of it,” she says.

The best way to learn about democracy is to dig in and experience the different aspects first-hand. Here are a few simple ways Delhon suggests you can ramp up your participation.

Research in the right places

Read local journalism, seek out independent news spaces and investigate a wide range of political conversations online. But be careful, Delhon warns. Many social media platforms are designed to pull you in and encourage a particular — sometimes extreme — perspective. She says misinformation and vitriol that is pervasive and unchecked is designed to alienate and isolate, not bring communities together. This kind of content can make us feel apart from others. The truth is, says Delhon, Canadians are often in solidarity on substantive issues.

Listen to people’s stories

Delhon says learning about politics and public service does not need to be technical or party-based. She and her colleagues at the centre have, since 2008, conducted exit interviews with more than 160 former Members of Parliament and a dozen politicians, which make up a podcast called Humans of the House. Subjects discuss the whole experience of political life — from winning an election to the last day in office. The stories are about challenge and reward, hope and inspiration. “This slow, in-depth reveal of human experience is often absent in political content,” she says. “But learning through stories is a key way forward toward civic engagement.”

Start with a small ‘p’

If you volunteer at your local food bank, you learn about food security and help families in need. As a parent volunteer on the school council, you see how the school functions and you have a direct line to address strategic challenges. This is small “p” politics, Delhon says, and it’s about making our communities better places for everyone. Engage with your neighbours, talk about what is important to them and help out where possible to build strong, cohesive communities, which contribute to solid provinces and federations — and democracies. Bonus: contributing to the prosperity of our communities has been linked to positive mental health outcomes.

Get involved

If you feel ready, and have a favourite municipal, provincial or federal candidate, help with campaigning, suggests Delhon. Drop pamphlets, answer phones and attend rallies for an up-close look at issues and policies and their impact on citizens. It will also give you an entry point into future involvement. Your own candidacy, perhaps?

Just show up

There are myriad and nuanced ways to become more civically engaged, and they don’t have to be daunting and serious, says Delhon. “You don’t have to read five newspapers a day or have a perfect grade in your social studies class to contribute. You just have to show up and tune in.”