FREDERICTON, May 17, 2004 -- The Honourable Hélène Chalifour Scherrer, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced the name of the Canada Day Poster Challenge 2004 finalists for New Brunswick. The winner is Krystal Murray, age 18, a recent graduate of Harrison Trimble High School in Moncton.The second place winner was Monica Melanson, age 13, of École Dr. Marguerite-Michaud in Bouctouche. Third place went to Grant McMillan, age 13, of Belleisle Regional High School in Springfield. Fourth place went to Meaghan Charest, age 18, of École Marie-Gaétane in Kedgwick. Fifth place went to Meaghan MacDougall, age 10, of Edith Cavell School in Moncton. The contest results were revealed at a ceremony held at Old Government House in Fredericton."Thousands of young Canadians rose to the challenge of designing a poster about the meeting of Aboriginal peoples and the first explorers--an important chapter in our collective history," said Minister Chalifour Scherrer. "Judging by the entries we received, it is clear that the values of sharing, communication, and respect play an important role in the lives of our young people." "I wish to congratulate all those in New Brunswick who took part in the Poster Challenge 2004," said Della Lacenaire, President of the Celebrate Canada Committee in New Brunswick. "These talented young artists have conveyed to us, through wonderful images and creativity, their vision of Canada and their appreciation of our history."The theme of the Canada Day Poster Challenge 2004 was "Acadia: First Dialogues -- The Meeting of Two Worlds." The contest allowed more than 1000 participants in New Brunswick to be transported back to the year 1604, when French explorers Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons and Samuel de Champlain landed in Acadia. The settlement founded by these explorers on Île Sainte-Croix, along the border between New Brunswick and Maine, is one of the first French colonies in North America. The design of one of the provincial or territorial finalists will be chosen as the official Canada Day poster and distributed throughout the country. All the finalists and their escorts will be guests of the Minister of Canadian Heritage in Ottawa, on July 1, 2004, where they will join the thousands of other Canadians gathered on Parliament Hill to celebrate Canada's 137th birthday. The national winner and his or her guardian will receive a week-long trip to France courtesy of the Canadian Embassy in Paris, and will also participate in several activities to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Acadia.Proud partners of the Canada Day Poster Challenge 2004 include Foreign Affairs Canada, Parks Canada, the Trans Canada Trail Foundation, the Royal Canadian Mint, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.Information:Mylène DupéréPress Secretary Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage(819) 997-7788
