Democracy 250 Hosts Cape Breton Students for Lunch

Pizza and politics were on the menu today, May 13, as Democracy 250 co-chair Russell MacLellan and Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor John Morgan hosted Grade 8 students from MacLennan Junior High School for lunch and a discussion on democracy and municipal government.

An initiative of Democracy 250, with financial support from RBC Royal Bank, Pizza and Politics spreads the message about the benefits of being actively engaged citizens and the importance of voting to junior high students across the province.

"Only about 25 per cent of youth under the age of 25 are voting. That is why Democracy 250 has made youth engagement such a major part of this year's celebrations marking the 250 anniversary of the birth of parliamentary democracy in Canada," said Mr. MacLellan. "Hopefully events like this will take the mystery out of politics and government and create a better understanding among youth about the importance of democracy in our day-today lives.

"The most important legacy the Democracy 250 initiative can leave is to positively influence youth participation in the democratic process and to begin to reverse the steady decline in voter turnout."

Since it was established in the spring of 2007, Democracy 250 has held a number of youth-engagement sessions with junior high, high school and university students throughout the province. For more information, visit www.democracy250.ca or the youth website at www.D250.ca