We've all been stood up on a date --- and that's exactly what happened to a handful of council and mayoral candidates Tuesday night.

An event dubbed "Candi (date)", put on by Edmonton's NextGen and The City of Edmonton Youth Council, aimed to give young voters the chance to go one on one with those vying to represent them.

The evening was operated as a speed-dating style event, candidates from Wards 1-6 along with a few mayoral candidates sat at tables and students made the rounds.

Problem was, there were far more candidates than students, leaving many sitting and waiting.

When you've been on the go for four months, there's not one second to lose, said

Ward 6 candidate Dexx Williams.

"It's disappointing. The engagement isn't there. It's frustrating," he said.

"This is time we could be spending door knocking, getting out there and engaging voters."

Nursing student David Ridley, 29, killed time before his next class by chatting with Ward 2 candidate Nita Jalkanen, about LRT and other infrastructure projects.

Ridley said the format was certainly attractive, one on one time with candidates, and said he's disappointed the turnout wasn't better.

"I'm surprised there aren't more people here honestly. Fifteen minutes with any candidate you want is amazing, and there isn't a lineup? I don't understand," he said.

"Unfortunately it's indicative of my generation."

Given the poor turnout, ward 1 candidate Sean Amato was contemplating going door knocking instead, he said it was disappointing because he was excited to get to talk to younger voters and get them engaged in municipal politics.

"I'm disappointed there aren't more students here," he said, adding that as a younger candidate, he hoped to give young voters someone they could relate to.

"You need to give them a reason to think politics is interesting. They need to see themselves in the people looking to represent them."

However the city maintained that while attendance was certainly lower than they had hoped, apathy wasn't necessarily to blame.

It is after all, exam week for most post-secondary students, many clearly choosing to study rather than immerse themselves in municipal politics.

The event venue was also a large open space, said organizer Ian Smith, making it seem like there was less people.

"It's not because students are apathetic like some may say. It's mid-term week, it's the first time for the event," he said.

"There are still lots of great conversations happening here."

Edmonton votes Oct. 21.

allison.salz@sunmedia.ca

@SUNAllisonSalz