[separator headline=”h2″ title=”Public Voting Period Launches with Voting Blitz”]

February 1, 2012 (Ottawa) – Canadians will have a hand in selecting the winner of Canada’s Coolest School Trip to Banff National Park.

Grade 8 and Secondary II students across Canada have spent the last three months producing videos that re-create a significant Canadian moment related to a national park, national historic site or national marine conservation area administered by Parks Canada. The Canada’s Coolest School Trip contest is a part of the national My Parks Pass program.

Over 50 entries have been received from every province across the country, in both official languages. All of the videos can be viewed on the My Parks Pass website at myparkspass.ca/video-gallery.

Canadians can help select the top ten finalists for judging. The voting period is open from 12:00 noon ET on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 through 11:59 pm PT on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. Visitors to the website can vote once a day for their favourite videos.

“We’re inviting Canadians to kick off the voting process with a blitz of 1,000 votes in the first 24 hours,” said Katherine Lim, Nature Canada’s outreach and engagement manager. “These students have worked hard to create amazing videos that celebrate Canada’s unique cultural and natural history.”

To view the video entries for Canada’s Coolest School Trip, visit myparkspass.ca/video-gallery.

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Katherine Lim
Manager, Outreach & Engagement
Nature Canada
Phone: 613 562-3447 ext.247
Email: klim@naturecanada.ca

Chris Sutton
Director, Communications
Nature Canada
Phone: 613 562-3447 ext. 248
Email: csutton@naturecanada.ca

[separator headline=”h2″ title=”About Canada’s Coolest School Trip”]
Canada’s Coolest School Trip contest is a collaboration between Parks Canada, Nature Canada, The Historica-Dominion Institute, Brewster Travel Canada and Banff Lake Louise Tourism. The winning Grade 8 or Secondary II class, as selected through a public voting process and a judging panel, will travel to Banff National Park for a 4-day, 3-night adventure.

[separator headline=”h2″ title=”About My Parks Pass”]
The My Parks Pass program is a collaboration between Parks Canada, Nature Canada and The Historica-Dominion Institute that provides all Grade 8 and Secondary II students free access for one year to any national park, national historic site or national marine conservation area administered by Parks Canada. Additionally, all Grade 8 and Secondary II classrooms, including split classes, receive free admission to these parks and sites as part of a classroom fieldtrip organized by the school.

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