TORONTO, November 30, 2007 - The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, today officially launched the 2008 Canada Day Poster Challenge by inviting all young Canadians from across the country to take part. The launch took place in the Glenn Gould Studio of the CBC Building in Toronto in front of a group of students. The theme of this year's Poster Challenge is "My Canada Today!"
"The Poster Challenge is a great opportunity for young Canadians to express what Canada means to them and to share their diversity and creativity with other young people from coast to coast," said Minister Verner. "It allows them to demonstrate their pride in being Canadian and to show how they see Canada today and what makes it so unique."
All young Canadians, aged 5 to 18, are invited to participate in the 2008 Canada Day Poster Challenge. The theme "My Canada Today!" encourages participants to illustrate the people, places, and things that have shaped Canada, such as the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City, which is being celebrated in 2008. Participants have until February 28, 2008, to submit their design to the Celebrate Canada Committee in their province or territory.
The national winner's artwork will be showcased as the official 2008 Canada Day poster and used for all "Celebrate Canada!" activities across the country. The 13 provincial and territorial finalists will win a three-day trip to Ottawa as special guests of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and will join thousands of other Canadians during the Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill.
The Canada Day Poster Challenge, established in 1987, is one of the most popular programs of the Department of Canadian Heritage. Each year, thousands of young people take part with the help of Celebrate Canada Committee members, schools, and teachers across the country. In 2007, more than 15 000 students took part in the Poster Challenge.
The official partners of the 2008 Canada Day Poster Challenge are the Hudson's Bay Company (Hbc), the Historica Foundation of Canada, the Dominion Institute, the Trans Canada Trail, and the Canadian Children's Museum. These partners will offer prizes to this year's winners.
To learn more about the Canada Day Poster Challenge, please visit www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/affiche-poster.
Information:
Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage,
Status of Women and Official Languages
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
