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VANCOUVER – Ten B.C. youth who came up with creative and inspiring film concepts to encourage energy conservation were awarded by BC Hydro at the BC Film Commission’s “Reel Green” event last night in Vancouver. The group was chosen from more than 60 entries as the grand prize winners in BC Hydro’s first ever “Off the Grid” on-line film contest.

The winners are:

• Jordan Findlay, age 14, Penticton for "The Power of One"
• Errol Hanham, age 15, Delta for "Doppelganger"
• Julia Hostetler, age 17, Victoria for "Click"
• Colin Klippenstein, age 17, Creston for “Dr. Banana"
• David Kobylanski, age 19, Burnaby for "Unplug”
• Joel McCarthy, age 17, Coquitlam for "It Never Hurts”
• Paula McGlynn, age 17, North Vancouver for "Save Your Own Energy"
• Paul Romein, age 20, Port Coquitlam for "Jim, the so-called Genius"
• Colin Rutherford, age 14, Kelowna for "World Hold On"
• Neil Vokey, age 16, Courtenay for "Well, Obviously!"

David Kobylanski’s video "Unplug," was voted the most popular video by online viewers. The 10 finalists were chosen by a panel of film industry representatives as well as BC Hydro executives. The grand prize for the 10 included a three day camp at the Gulf Islands Film and Television School on Galiano Island. While at camp, the winners produced five short films focusing on energy conservation. The films premiered last night at the B.C. Film Commission’s "Reel Green" event at the Wosk Centre.

"The originality displayed by all of the entries show youth are not only very knowledgeable about the need to conserve electricity but also have some very clear ideas about how to communicate this need," said Bob Elton, BC Hydro’s President and CEO. "These messages will be key in helping British Columbia achieve half of our future energy needs through conservation by 2020."

The BC Energy Plan has set a goal of B.C. becoming energy self-sufficient by 2016. BC Hydro has identified conservation as the first and best means of achieving that goal. Through initiatives such as "Off the Grid", BC Hydro will encourage innovative ways to create a culture of energy conservation in B.C.

The winning film entries can be viewed at www.offthegridvideo.com.

For more conservation ideas visit BC Hydro’s web site at www.bchydro.com.

Contact:

Gillian Robinson Riddell

Media Relations

Phone: 604 623-4022

gillian.robinson@bchydro.com