Cafés, pubs, and restaurants have long been forums for open political debate, but somewhere along the line, it became taboo to publicly discuss the issues that matter to us most.
Mira Oreck, director of strategic partnerships for the non-parisan Broadbent Institute, bristles at the long-held adage that politics and religion shouldn't be discussed in polite conversation.
"Those are my two favourite subjects!" she says.
Oreck is spearheading a campaign to bring political conversation back to the dinner table and raise awareness about the upcoming municipal election by partnering with local cafés, pubs, and restaurants.
Businesses participating in the Feed Democracy campaign are encouraging their customers to talk politics and take part in the upcoming municipal election through table top placards, window decals, and branding.
"The idea behind [Feed Democracy] is to get the idea of the municipal election into the public's mind," she says. "When we sit down over a meal, it's an opportunity to stop and talk about the things that matter, your city, your province, your country."
Voting in the municipal election has tremendous impact, Oreck says, especially when governments are being elected with slim margins on low voter turnouts – as a little as 25 per cent in cities like Surrey. That's problematic for any government's mandate moving forward.
"A healthy democracy is one in which the public is engaged," says Oreck.
While many business owners are politically active and value healthy debate, most don't want to get involved in politics directly for fear of scaring off customers.
Oreck says Feed Democracy allows them to participate in the democratic process without having to be overtly political.
"They don't want to alienate their customers, but they want to do something," she says.
There are more than 20 Vancouver businesses currently taking part, including Chambar, Earnest Ice Cream, Fable, Forage, Lolita's Cantina, Parallel 49 Brewing, Save On Meats, Vij's Railway Express, and Choices Markets.
• Vancouver's municipal election takes place Nov. 15, with advance voting taking place from Nov. 4 to 10, and Nov. 12. For more information on where and how to vote, visit the City of Vancouver's Election website. (http://vancouver.ca/your-government/2014-municipal-election.aspx)
Log on to Twitter and tell us what issues matter most to you this election with the hashtag, #WhyIVote.
