Turn Up YVR campaign lures youth vote with free, bus-based concerts

The organizers of Turn Up YVR are hoping to connect youth with politics in a whole different way.

They've rented buses, booked local artists and are promising "bus-based concerts" to more than 250 young people who have signed up to go to advanced polls together this Saturday.

Juno award-winning musician Dan Mangan, Shaun Verreault of Wide Mouth Mason, Ryan Guldemond of Mother Mother and The Boom Booms are amongst those who will be performing.

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The campaign, Turn Up YVR, was founded during Vancouver's last civic election. When this federal election campaign began, organizers resurrected the idea to breathe new life into the debate of apathy amongst youth.

Hilary Farson is one of those organizers and she says the research she's seen has shown the flip side of that debate.

"They're active in new ways ... so we asked ourselves how do you bridge that gap between the political acts youth are involved with and the traditional voting process," said Farson in an interview with CBC Radio's The Early Edition on Friday.

"Let's physically bring them to the polls and help them vote."

For weeks, the non-partisan group has been trying to court the youth vote. They've interviewed local artists like Ashleigh Ball of Hey Ocean! and Tyler Bancroft of Said the Whale on why they vote and the issues that matter to them.

Farson is hoping these artists will make political activism — or even just the simple act of voting — relatable to young people. They want to ensure youth voices and opinions are reflected in policy.

"The issues that matter to us ... we need to have these as priorities and they won't be until we show up," said Farson.

The group is hoping to see 300 people turn up on Saturday, but notes they're happy to accommodate anyone who joins, as bad weather might hinder participation. 

They just ask that everyone researches the candidates in their riding before they arrive.

Buses will be leaving from the Broadway-City Hall Skytrain Station parking lot and heading to riding-specific polls.

• 11 a.m.: for residents of Vancouver Quadra or Vancouver Granville 
• 1 p.m.: for residents of Vancouver Centre
• 3 p.m.: for residents of Vancouver East or Vancouver Kingsway​

For those who live outside those areas, a bus will take them to an Elections Canada office so they can still vote.

To hear the full interview listen to the audio labelled Turn Up YVR rocks the bus to advance polls with CBC Radio One's The Early Edition.