Seventeen-year-old Samuel Robson isn乌鸦传媒檛 waiting to vote before making his voice heard.
The Mount Boucherie Secondary student from West Kelowna says he got into politics because he乌鸦传媒檚 worried about the future乌鸦传媒攈is, his brother乌鸦传媒檚, and his peers乌鸦传媒�. His growing concerns about affordability, safety, and youth engagement have spurred him to action.
乌鸦传媒淚 can't really sit around and just do nothing,乌鸦传媒� Robson said in an interview with Black Press Media. 乌鸦传媒淚 would consider myself a doer.乌鸦传媒�
He pointed to high taxes on the middle class and small businesses, soaring deficits, and a tough job and housing market that are creating serious challenges for young people in B.C. Robson also raised concerns about public safety and the social effects of the province乌鸦传媒檚 drug policies.
乌鸦传媒淭here are violent criminals who are getting out on bail, sex offenders, abusers, and violent people. They乌鸦传媒檙e not being convicted,乌鸦传媒� he added. 乌鸦传媒淭he drug decriminalization in B.C. is making our streets less safe and it allows an unhealthy lifestyle.乌鸦传媒�
Another major issue that pushed him to get involved, he said, is the rise in anti-Semitism.
乌鸦传媒淚 see this growing anti-Semitism movement, the pro-Hamas and intifada agendas. I can't really just stand and allow that to be in Canada.乌鸦传媒�
Robson volunteered for two campaigns in the 2024 provincial election, by going door-to-door and encouraging voter turnout. While some people didn乌鸦传媒檛 take him seriously because of his age, many were encouraged by his efforts.
乌鸦传媒淲hether they agreed or not, they said good job for getting out and getting involved,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut I still got sworn at a few times.乌鸦传媒�
Robson said he found that others are also worried about their futures.
乌鸦传媒淭alking with not just my friends, not just my family, other kids at school as well, lots of people are concerned.乌鸦传媒�
Now he乌鸦传媒檚 organizing his own political event, aimed at inspiring more youth to get involved.
Y at Kelowna Gospel Fellowship Church (3714 Gordon Drive). Doors open at 5 p.m. The event is open to youth aged 15 to 25 from across the Okanagan.
Speakers include local MLAs Gavin Dew, Kristina Loewen, and Macklin McCall. There will also be free pizza, pop and water.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檒l just be a nice social event, kind of get the youth able to network with each other,乌鸦传媒� Robson said. 乌鸦传媒淎lso to start getting involved, whether that乌鸦传媒檚 just going to an event, meeting their elected officials, or volunteering.乌鸦传媒�
Robson said the MLAs were quick to support the event.
乌鸦传媒淭hey responded right away, they all said yes,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey see this is a growing movement.乌鸦传媒�
He believes young voices are often missing from political conversations, and believes that silence has consequences.
乌鸦传媒淲ith fewer and fewer people speaking up and taking action, I feel like fewer and fewer voices are really being heard,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 very harmful, especially to our youth.乌鸦传媒�
As for the current state of politics in B.C., Robson said he is not impressed.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 very disappointed. We can really be a powerhouse where everybody has equal opportunity economically, and everybody can have a good living. But we乌鸦传媒檙e not at that point right now.乌鸦传媒�
He is also frustrated that, in his view, opposition voices aren乌鸦传媒檛 being heard.
乌鸦传媒淢y party didn乌鸦传媒檛 get in the last election,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut I think what we heard from the B.C. Conservatives are that they were willing to work with the other MLAs. What you see with the current B.C. government is that they乌鸦传媒檙e not willing to work with the Conservative MLAs.乌鸦传媒�
Robson added that he乌鸦传媒檚 hopeful about what young people can achieve by being politically active, if they show up.
乌鸦传媒淪tand up for what you think is right. Fight for your future. Fight for others乌鸦传媒� futures. Stand up and be the change.乌鸦传媒�
