Social work and human services students at Thompson Rivers University will be holding an all-candidates forum on October 6 ahead of next month’s provincial election.
Thompson-Nicola Branch Representative for the BC Association of Social Workers Lorry-Ann Austin says the event will be held online on Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Social work is inherently tied to politics and social issues and social justice and so the students really just want to ensure that they are part of this exciting process as we look to confirming two MLAs in our region – new or reappointed,” she said.
“Whoever is participating in the Zoom forum will be able to put questions in the chat and then we are going to have somebody moderating the chat to ensure that everything remains civil as well as to field questions and then have them pose a couple of those questions to the candidates.”
Austin is also an assistant teaching professor in the School of Social Work and Human Service at TRU, and she will be moderating the forum, which will get underway around 3 p.m. and last about 90 minutes.
“The students really at Thompson Rivers University, they have spearheaded this. They are really looking forward to having some questions answered about social issues that they see top of mind,” Austin added.
“So they see mental health and substance use as well as homelessness and poverty as big social issues in our communities and they are hoping to have some answers from the candidates about what they might do.”
Austin says they’re invited both incumbent BC Liberal MLAs – Todd Stone in Kamloops-South Thompson and Peter Milobar in Kamloops-North Thompson. She says they’ve also sent invites to the NDP and Green Party, who have yet to name candidates in the two Kamloops ridings.
“We are preparing for careers in social work and human services because we care about people and our community, and we believe government has an important role to play in ensuring the well-being of all” said third-year social work student Megan Dalgleish.
“This forum will help to inform students and other voters about important and pressing social issues the successful candidates will have to address.”
Election day is set for October 24, and you can register for the forum here.
