Fraser River Essay Contest promotes environmental awareness amongst BC high-school students
February 18, 2008
In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Simon Fraser's journey down the Fraser River, the British Columbia Institute of Technology's (BCIT) Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation (FWR) program is coordinating The Fraser River Essay Contest. Open to all Grade 11 high-school students across British Columbia, the winner of the contest will receive a $3,000 BCIT entrance scholarship applicable to any program of their choice.
"The Fraser River Essay contest hopes to encourage students to explore what the Fraser River means to them as well as our province," says Mark Angelo, program head of BCIT’s FWR program and coordinator of the Heart of the Fraser initiative. "In this special anniversary year, it's especially appropriate to think about the many values of the Fraser River, which is the heart and soul of our province and one of the world's great waterways."
The theme of the essay contest is "What the Fraser River means to British Columbia". Students are asked to submit an original essay via email to
Fraser_River@bcit.ca by midnight on June 13, 2008. The winner will be announced in early September during the run-up to World Rivers Day on September 28, which will see events unfolding in communities all along the Fraser River.
"The winning essay should focus on the many values of this great waterway as well as its meaning to British Columbia," says Angelo, who himself has paddled and explored virtually every kilometre of the river's length. "I think this will be an exciting and positive initiative as well as an appropriate way to help celebrate Simon Fraser’s great achievement."
For essay submission guidelines and requirements, or to learn more about the Hope to Mission stretch of the Fraser, visit the Explore the Fraser website and click on "Fraser Contest" in the right sidebar.
Two-hundred years ago, fur trader Simon Fraser and 23 men set out in four birch bark canoes down the river. Their mission was to explore the river that now bears Fraser's name, from Prince George to the Pacific Ocean. Their perilous journey, which spanned more than 1,500 kilometers over 71 days, took them across some of the most challenging and least forgiving terrain on the planet.
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For further information, media can contact:
Mark Angelo, program head
Fish, Wildlife and Recreation program
Tel. 604-432-8270
Mark_angelo@bcit.caAllison Markin, Media Relations Manager
Tel. 604-432-8773
Cell 604-836-6700
Allison_markin@bcit.ca 
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Topic: BCIT contest for grade 11 students (Read 1002 times)