Campaigning during a pandemic: a new challenge for candidates
CBC
Running a campaign can be a gruelling, non-stop, months-long journey that often involves lots of handshaking, policy-making, fundraising, debating and connecting with and trying to woo voters.
But during a pandemic it can be especially difficult.
We've asked four candidates running in wards 3, 5, 6 and 7 to share their experiences of running a campaign during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. There's a former city councillor, a former chief of staff, a former military medic and a current paramedic.
They all say it's been a challenge connecting with voters, some of whom shun candidates on their doorsteps, while others are hesitant to get too close, realizing many of these would-be politicians have likely come into contact with a lot of people.
It's altered their campaigns. One candidate has done away with door-knocking altogether. All are finding new ways to connect with voters.
Marilyn North Peigan is proud of her First Nations ancestry as a member of the Blackfoot Confederacy.
"The first Blackfoot woman to be running," she said before starting another round of door knocking in the northeast community of Tuxedo Park.
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