REGINA, April 26, 2007 -- On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament (Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar), announced the names of the Canada Day Poster Challenge 2007 winner and finalists for Saskatchewan. The winner is Morgan McKellar, age 15, of Outlook High School, in Outlook.
The theme of the 2007 Canada Day Poster Challenge was "A Portrait of Canada: Celebrating 140 Years." The contest was open to youth across Canada aged 18 and under. More than 950 youth from Saskatchewan participated this year.
"This year's Poster Challenge is a special one. Canada's New Government asked young Saskatchewanians to think about what it means to them that Canada is 140 years old," said Minister Oda. "We invited them to express their thoughts about Canada's people, geography, culture and heritage, and the results are inspiring. Each young person's design captured a unique and personal view of Canada."
"The Poster Challenge is a unique opportunity for our young Canadians to express their creativity and to demonstrate their pride in belonging to this great country," said Minister Skelton. "I congratulate all of the participants from across the province of Saskatchewan."
The first-place winner was selected from the finalists in the following age categories:
Age 5-8: Vonia Nimchuk, Age 8, Bruno Central School, Bruno
Age 9-11: Lila Drozdah, Age 11, École Connaught Community School, Regina
Age 12-14: Allison Forseille, Age 14, St. Marguerite School, Saskatoon
Age 15-18: Morgan McKellar, Age 15, Outlook High School, Outlook
The contest results were announced at a ceremony that took place at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Regina on April 26, 2007.
The design of one of the provincial or territorial winners will be chosen as the official Canada Day 2007 poster and will be distributed throughout the country. The name of the national winner will be announced in May. All 13 provincial and territorial winners and their escorts will be guests of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women in Ottawa on July 1, where they will join thousands of other Canadians gathered on Parliament Hill to celebrate Canada's 140th birthday.
From June to September 2007, the 13 winning posters will be on display at the Canadian Children's Museum, located in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec.
Initiated in 1987, the Canada Day Poster Challenge is one of the Department of Canadian Heritage's most popular programs. Official partners of the 2007 Canada Day Poster Challenge--the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), the Trans Canada Trail, the Historica Foundation of Canada, the Dominion Institute, and the Canadian Children's Museum--will offer prizes to this year's winners.
To find out more about the Canada Day Poster Challenge, please visit our website at
www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/affiche-poster
Information:
Angela Cassie
A/Director, Communications and Executive Services
Prairies and Northern Region
Canadian Heritage
204 983-4367
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
