Online Voting Opens for Canada's Coolest School Trip

Nationwide Contest Will Award One of Canada's Grade-Eight Classes with Trip to Banff National Park

BANFF, AB, Feb. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - For the next three weeks Canadians from coast to coast will have the chance to turn a dream into reality for a group of students. Public voting for "Canada's Coolest School Trip" opened today with organizers of the contest expecting to generate thousands of votes in the first 24 hours.

Parks Canada, in collaboration with Brewster Travel Canada, Air Canada and Banff Lake Louise Tourism, launched the Canada's Coolest School Trip contest on November 10, 2011. A national contest created to engage students, teachers and parents across Canada in the country's natural and cultural heritage, Canada's Coolest School Trip will showcase one of Canada's most iconic destinations, Banff National Park, as the ultimate reward for an entire class of student contestants.

The contest encouraged grade-eight students across the country to recreate a significant Canadian moment related to a national park, national historic site or national marine conservation area on video and submit it for nationwide judging via Parks Canada's 'My Parks Pass' website. Hundreds of students have participated with over 50 videos having been submitted.

Video entries for the contest can be viewed on the 'My Parks Pass' website and will remain open to online voting until February 21, 2012. Finalists will go on to be judged by a panel of esteemed jury members on February 29, 2012 based on originality, content and creativity.

The prize for the winning class, a once in a lifetime, four day, activity-filled trip to Banff National Park, Canada's first national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, includes round-trip airfare on Air Canada and an excursion on the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure. The winners will travel to Banff National Park at the end of May 2012.

"We're very excited to see Canadian students reconnecting and engaging with our national parks system in this way," said Julie Canning, President & CEO of Banff Lake Louise Tourism. "It's a privilege for us to be a part of this contest and to welcome our nation's youth to experience all the adventure and excitement that awaits them in the world's coolest outdoor playground."

The My Parks Pass program was launched in May 2010 as a joint initiative between Parks Canada, Nature Canada and the Historica-Dominion Institute. The ongoing goal of the program is to encourage and enable Canadian youth to visit and engage with national parks and historic sites to ensure their continued protection and preservation. At the start of each school year, all grade eight classes have free access as a group to all the national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas, and at the end of the school year every grade eight student across Canada, nearly 400,000 youths, is given a My Parks Pass providing free access to these natural and historic treasures.

For additional information about Canada's Coolest School Trip contest, visit Parks Canada's My Parks Pass website at http://www.myparkspass.ca/canadas-coolest-school-trip

About Banff Lake Louise Tourism
Banff Lake Louise Tourism is a destination marketing organization for the Town of Banff, Community of Lake Louise and Banff National Park. Supporting over 800 businesses, our mission is to engage visitors in unrivalled, remarkable experiences with our membership. www.banfflakelouise.com.

Mary Morrison
Manager, Travel Media Relations
Tel: [phone]