The sudden passing of 10-year councillor Jason Schreyer has led to a by-election that’s proving to be genuine civic democracy in action.

As the ballot filled up for the vacant Elmwood–East Kildonan council seat, none of the candidates had run for public office before. There were no flashy campaign launches or big-money events, which may be why the campaign’s importance has been under-reported by local media.

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On the other hand, I’ve done extensive interviews with all seven hopefuls for The Great Canadian Talk Show podcast and attended a “Meet and Greet” event hosted by the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation. Here’s a look at what’s shaping the race.

One candidacy stands out for its reminder of public service. Zekharia Selehadin, a 25-year-old child care wo

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