St. Michael students take part in nationwide mock election

Mr. Boersen and his Grade 11 law class held a successful mock election on April 28, mirroring the 2025 federal election on the same day.

As Canadians prepared to head to the polls on April 28, 900,000 elementary, intermediate and high school students cast their ballots through Student Vote Canada, a national parallel election program aimed at bringing democracy to life in classrooms from coast to coast.

The initiative involved 5,000 schools across the country. The mock election mirrored the real election process, complete with returning officers, ballot boxes and voter lists. The goal was to familiarize students with the democratic process and encourage their interest and participation.

Among the participating schools was St. Michael Catholic Secondary School, where all students took part in the mock election spearheaded by teacher Mark Boersen and his Grade 11 law class.

The Grade 11 students set up tables and organized the voting in the library’s seminar room, with students from Grades 9 to 12 casting their ballots for the political leader they most closely aligned with.

Boersen said the Student Vote Canada program gives young Canadians the opportunity to engage with the democratic process and learn about elections firsthand, providing an educational experience that helps build informed future voters.

“We want students to be involved in the democratic process. That’s what this is all about. We wanted to make it as real as possible so that students can get used to the process," he said. "This is a good opportunity to show youth involvement in democracy and highlight the importance of civic education.”

Teachers were encouraged to have students log in to Vote Compass – Youth Edition, an online platform that helps users determine which political party aligns with their core values and goals. Students answered a series of questions about key issues facing the country, giving them direction on which leader or party best represents their views.

Emmy Leis, one of Boersen’s Grade 11 students who helped set up the election, said the Vote Compass tool was an important resource.

“The website asks you certain questions about how you personally feel about issues going on in the world or in our country. It helps to align you with what political groups have the same values,” she said. “This process has been really helpful for me because it’s hard to know where you sit.”

Julian Walsh, another Grade 11 student who acted as an information officer for the mock election, said it took about a month to prepare for the election and he hopes this process will increase voter turnout once students reach voting age.

“Voter turnout for young voters in Canada isn't as high as it should be," Walsh said. "I think by doing this, it gives people some experience so they’re not just going in for the first time when they vote for real. It will also lessen the anxiety about voting in real elections later on.”

In the end, students from across Canada elected a Conservative Party minority government, with the Liberal Party forming the official opposition.