[separator headline=”h2″ title=”Grade 8 class from Prince Edward Island wins trip to Banff National Park”]

March 27, 2012 (Ottawa) – The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today announced that a Grade 8 class from Prince Edward Island will be travelling to Banff National Park as their prize for winning Parks Canada’s exciting Canada’s Coolest School Trip Contest.

“Congratulations to the Grade 8 class from Montague Intermediate School on winning a trip to Banff National Park, one of Canada’s most cherished national treasures,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue and Regional Minister for Prince Edward Island. “I am convinced that these lucky students will never forget what they will experience in Banff National Park and that they will truly and deeply connect with this natural and historic treasure.”

The grade 8-C class from Montague Intermediate School will be welcomed by the Banff Community High School grade 8 students and they will experience the ultimate Canadian Rockies adventure packed with exciting activities, including a trip to the top of Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola, storytelling while on the Banff Lake Cruise, and sightseeing at some of the most beautiful places in the Mountain Parks. They will also visit the renowned Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, where the winning class will sleep over at the Glacier View Inn and venture onto the Athabasca Glacier onboard a massive Ice Explorer on the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure.

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, and a part of Parks Canada’s My Parks Pass program to help foster lasting relationships between young Canadians and Canada’s treasured places.

The prize includes meals, accommodations and return airfare to and from Calgary on board Air Canada for a class of up to 30 students and 10 chaperones. In order to win, classes had to submit a video that re-created a significant Canadian moment related to a national park, national marine conservation area, or national historic site administered by Parks Canada.

The contest was open to all Grade 8 and Secondary 2 classes in Canada and ran from September 2011 to January 2012. There were a total of 69 videos submitted from Grade 8/Secondary 2 classes from across the country. A panel of judges was responsible for selecting the winning entry from the top ten class videos that received the most votes through an online voting process.

“I’d like to thank each and every Grade 8 student and their teachers for the time, creativity and effort they put into producing these exceptional videos.” said Minister Kent. “Their participation was a testament to why engaging and connecting youth to their natural and historical treasures is so important.”

Parks Canada’s My Parks Pass program grants Grade 8 / Secondary 2 students across Canada free access for one full year to any of Parks Canada’s parks and sites, including free of charge entry for class visits. The “My Parks Pass” also entitles families to receive an instant discount on daily family or group passes, on annual national park or national historic site passes, or a Parks Canada Discovery Pass.

Parks Canada works to ensure Canada’s historic and natural heritage is protected and, through a network of 43 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and four national marine conservation areas, invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery at our treasured natural and historic places.

For additional information and for the full contest rules and conditions, or to view the submitted videos, please see www.myparkspass.ca or www.monpasseportparcs.com.

[separator headline=”h2″ title=”Information:”]
Adam Sweet
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
of the Environment
819-997-1441
Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-953-8371
www.twitter.com/parkscanada
[separator headline=”h3″ 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=”h3″ 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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