BC Hydro contest asks youth to Invent the Future
VANCOUVER, B.C. – Just in time for back to school, BC Hydro is offering youth in B.C. a chance to win up to $10,000 to use towards education costs.
Through an online contest called Invent the Future, BC Hydro is encouraging youth to develop creative solutions to B.C.’s sustainability challenges. With four cash prizes of $2,500, a celebrity panel of judges and the chance to win tickets to the 2010 Winter Games, the contest is expected to inspire B.C.’s best and brightest.
“The overall goal of this campaign is to motivate youth and get them thinking about a sustainable future,” said celebrity judge and Spirit Bear Youth Coalition founder, Simon Jackson. “It’s their future, and youth can be part of the solution to how we meet the needs of today, without putting in jeopardy the well-being of future generations.”
The province-wide contest reaches out to youth, ages 13 to 24, using social media tools such as Facebook applications and Twitter and asks them to produce and submit, in either video or essay format, meaningful and creative ways to positively shape the future of our planet.
“This is the second year we have run Invent the Future. It is an ideal platform for youth to get involved and to act creatively and thoughtfully on the issues of energy conservation and sustainability,” said Lisa Coltart, executive director of Power Smart and Customer Care for BC Hydro. “Conservation is going to play a key role in meeting our province’s electricity needs, and this is a chance for youth to offer ideas on how we can get there.”
This year’s judges comprise a celebrity line-up including Vancouver Canuck Ryan Kesler, actors Cameron Bright (New Moon) and Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) and community leader Simon Jackson (Spirit Bear Youth Coalition founder). The judges will select four grand prize winners based on a variety of criteria including originality and innovation, feasibility and cost effectiveness, impact, quality, approach and clarity.
The contest runs from Sept. 8 to Nov. 8, 2009. Submissions can be done individually, or in teams of two. For more information on Invent the Future visit if.youthscience.ca.
Simi Heer, Media Relations, BC Hydro
P: 604 623 3963
C: 604 375 2746