Green Gurus ~ youth & our Earth

Green Matters Essay Contest Winners Announced to Celebrate Earth Day

Mayor Brad Woodside was on hand today, to announce the winners of the 2009 Green Matters Essay Contest.

TD Friends of the Environment, represented by Brian Jones of TD Waterhouse PIA, sponsored the contest with $2,000 in prize money. The theme of this year's contest was Letter to the Prime Minister, encouraging students to share their hopes and dreams for a cleaner, greener Canada.

"I am very excited and proud to say, that we received over 550 submissions this year, more that four times the amount of essays than last year. Students had some wonderful ideas about how to make our city, country and earth a cleaner, greener, and better place in which to live!", said Mayor Woodside. "The young people in our community really stepped up this year, and are teaching older generations about living more sustainable lives. It is very promising to see that they are working hard to make Fredericton a better place for years to come."

 The winners in each category receive a cash prize and a certificate. The winner of the high school category will receive $500, while the second place prize is $200. The winner of the Middle School category will receive $300 with second place worth $100. Top prize for the Grades 3-5 category and the Kindergarten to Grade 2 category is $200.

Judges Carl Duivenvoorden, Valerie Hillier, and Brian Jones selected the following winners in each category:

High School: First prize - Taryn McKenzie-Mohr; second prize - Wesley Boardman

Middle School: First prize - Julie Sherry; second prize - Anfissa Molchanova

Elementary grades 3-5: Greg Reid

Elementary grades K-2: Kathryn Andrews

Connaught Street Elementary School was the winner of the school prize, with an 83% participation rate from students in the essay contest. The school will receive a collection of environmentally themed books and educational resources, valued at $500, sponsored by TD Friends of the Environment.

Many thanks go out to all of those students that participated. Winning essays will be featured on the Green Matters website in coming weeks. 

All of the essays received will be sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Office in Ottawa.

Because Climate Change is too important to leave to the adults