News Release
1997-40
June 10, 1997
Health Canada announces winners of Challenge to Youth contest
OTTAWA - Health Minister David Dingwall today announced the winners of the Health Canada Challenge to Youth, a tobacco-related contest for young people launched last March. "I asked young people to help us in the fight against youth smoking," said the Minister. "Their response has been tremendous and will help us sensitize other young people to the dangers of tobacco use."
The Challenge to Youth contest invited Canadians aged 13 to 19 to submit their 20-second anti-tobacco message by calling a toll free number. More than 10,000 entries were received through the line which was promoted by MuchMusic/MusiquePlus, Cineplex Odeon Theatres, Empire Theatres and Future Shop in collaboration with Health Canada. The winning entries were developed into Health Canada commercials featuring the actual contest winners.
The idea for the contest grew out of a Youth Forum on Tobacco held in May 1996 in Halifax, where young people from across the country met to discuss the problem of youth smoking and ways to address it. Their advice to the Minister included the suggestion that anti-smoking ads be developed by young people for young people.
Representatives of the Youth Forum on Tobacco made the final selection, choosing the top two winners from each region. These teens flew to Vancouver April 26 to help in the production of the Health Canada commercials. The anti-tobacco commercials will air on MuchMusic/MusiquePlus and in Cineplex Odeon and Empire Theatres across the country until July 3, 1997.
Minister Dingwall congratulates the winners and thanks all the contest entrants for their sincere and insightful testimonials on the reality of smoking. The Minister hopes that children, teenagers and parents will listen to these messages and think twice before trying their first cigarette."
The regional winners are:
Region - Name - City British Columbia
Yvonne Charpentier Parksville, British Columbia Northwest Territories
Myalisa L'Heureux Genelle, British Columbia and Yukon
The Prairie Provinces
Sarah Mutch St. Albert, Alberta
Thelon Oeming Edmonton, Alberta
Ontario
Shannon Caillier Scarborough
Joy Seal Kin Cardine
Quebec
Mathieu Daoust Ormstown
Olivier Vivace Montreal
The Atlantic Provinces
Paige Fossett Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
Jason Ash Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Media Inquiries:
Sylvie Patry
Health Canada
(613) 957-2988
Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991
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