The message "Where Waters Flow, Do Not Go! Danger!" is well known among Greater Sudbury students thanks to the annual Fast Flowing Water Contest and awareness campaign.
For eight year, Conservation Sudbury has put the contest with the help of the City of Greater Sudbury and Petryna Advertising.
“The Fast Flowing Water poster and script contest is a fun learning activity for students, but also has a greater purpose in ensuring that our kids learn that moving waterways, although hard to resist, pose a real danger,” said Lin Gibson, Conservation Sudbury Chairperson. "This is especially important as school ends and students head off on summer vacation."
In 2007, 13-year-old Adam Dickie drowned. He was the 22nd recorded victim of drowning in Greater Sudbury’s Junction Creek. After this tragic incident, the Junction Creek Safety Committee was established to review conditions around fast flowing water and make recommendations to reduce the possible recurrence of this tragic event.
Research revealed that an educational campaign would be the most effective tool in establishing a “psychological fence” which would alert children and their parents to the dangers of these water bodies. The result has been the Fast Flowing Water Contest and elementary curriculum package that includes a syllabus for JK to grade 8.
Outreach presentations have also been made at 21 schools this year and have reached approximately 6,000 students. The education tools are offered by Conservation Sudbury.
This is the eighth year the contest has been held. There are two ways for students to participate; by drawing a poster or by developing a script/storyboard for a TV commercial. The purpose is to demonstrate the dangers of fast moving water and how to stay safe. All elementary schools in Greater Sudbury were invited to participate, and the contest was open from grade 4 to 8 students. Students could choose to submit a poster, a script or both.
In the poster division, one winner was selected for each grade and given a $250 Best Buy gift card and an overall winning poster was selected and will be showcased on two 10’ x 20’ billboards in Greater Sudbury, donated by Petryna Advertising. The school of the winning poster received a $1,000 Best Buy gift card.
In the script division, an overall winning script was chosen and brought to life as a real PSA, with production provided by Petryna Advertising and screening donated by Cinéfest International Film Festival this September. The script winner also received a $500 Best Buy gift card and the winning school a $1,000 Best Buy gift card. A second place script was chosen and winners received a $250 Best Buy gift card. (Con’t …)
The following winners were announced at today’s awards ceremony:
Video Contest Winners:
1st Place Winner: Sarah Neelands, Grade 7 student at Marymount Academy (teacher, Debra Michaud)
2nd Place Winning Group: Connor Phillips, Emma Chokomoolin, Peyton Pitawanakwat, Ella Stewart, Grade 8 students at Assiginack Public School (teacher, Casey Boisvert)
Poster Contest Winners:
Grade 4 Winner: Sheamus Blum, St. James School (teacher, Sarah Dickieson)
Grade 5 Winner and Overall Contest Winner: Bradley Kiviaho, Walden Public School (teacher, Stefan Skogberg)
Grade 6 Winner: Alex Tremblay, St. Anne’s School (teacher, Serena Troscinski)
Grade 7 Winner: Sarah Neelands, Marymount Academy (teacher, Debra Michaud) Grade 8 Winner: Tianna Earl, Marymount Academy (teacher, Debra Michaud)
Teachers interested in using the Fast Flowing Water curriculum are encouraged to visit Conservation Sudbury’s portal to download grade specific lessons, activities and worksheets.
