Winners of 2014 Classroom Energy Diet Challenge announced

CALGARY, May 8, 2014 /CNW/ - Over the past three months, more than 1,200 registered classrooms, from St. John's to Vancouver Island have raised their energy awareness and learned how to manage and reduce their energy consumption as part of the Classroom Energy Diet Challenge (CEDC); a national energy efficiency competition from Canadian Geographic and Shell Canada that helps youth understand where energy comes from and how they use it.

The 2014 CEDC featured over $40,000 in prizes, giving competing classrooms the chance to win gift cards and charitable donations while learning how to reduce their carbon footprint. The competition has gained traction in Canadian schools with more challenges completed than ever before and website traffic doubled from last year, showing growing interest from schools, teachers and students.

This year's winning schools:

• Duncan Cran Elementary School, Fort St. John, British Columbia
  Top School Prize - For an incredible third year in a row, Duncan Cran Elementary School wins the honour of Top School, earning a $4,250 gift card and a $1,000 donation to a charity of their choice.
• Point Leamington Academy, Point Leamington, Newfoundland:
  Most Points Prize - One of four schools tied for Most Points, Ms. Barker's grade 5/6 class wins a $4,000 gift card and a $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice.
• École secondaire de la Ruche, Magog, Quebec:
  Video Contest Grand Prize (Secondary): Mr. Hinse's grade 11/12 class wins $2,500 towards technology for their school through the creation of a winning public service announcement about the importance of reducing waste, reusing materials and recycling.
• Belfountain Public School, Caledon, Ontario:
  Video Contest Grand Prize (Elementary): Ms. Broersma's grade 2 class wins $2,500 towards technology for their school with a public service announcement focused on energy use, waste reduction and caring for the environment.
• St. Mary School, Huntsville, Ontario:
  Green Your School Contest Grand Prize: Mr. Foxcroft's grade 7/8 class at St. Mary School have won $10,000 in the new Green Your School contest.  St. Mary School plans to implement an outdoor classroom, including a greenhouse, vegetable garden, and a rain barrel water system.

"We are delighted with the ingenuity, quality and depth of understanding shown by the classrooms who participated in this year's CEDC," says Gilles Gagnier, Publisher of Canadian Geographic. "Their activities give clear evidence of a growing awareness and understanding of energy systems in Canada, an imperative for our country today and tomorrow."

"Making good energy choices is important for all Canadians, from the classroom to the boardroom, the gas pump to the factory floor," said Lorraine Mitchelmore, Shell Canada President and Country Chair. "The creativity shown by both teachers and students is a reminder of what we can achieve as Canadians and is a challenge to us all."

CEDC is a partnership between Shell Canada and Canadian Geographic. The challenges are designed to enhance curriculum learning in a practical way and help students make better choices about their energy use.

For more information on the Classroom Energy Diet Challenge, please visit energydiet.canadiangeographic.ca or follow developments on Twitter (@Energy_Lit) and Facebook (Shell Canadian Geographic Energy Diet Challenge).

Notes to Editors

• A representative from Shell Canada and Canadian Geographic will visit each of the winning classrooms the week of May 12th. Photo and interview opportunities will be made available during award presentation events.

Canadian Geographic
Canadian Geographic magazine is a Canadian magazine that is unapologetic about celebrating Canada. It is owned by The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, one of Canada's largest, most-trusted, non-biased, non-profit educational organizations. The Society and its educational arm, Canadian Geographic Education, have more than 10,700 teacher members and are dedicated to imparting a broader knowledge and deeper appreciation of Canada to Canadians.

Shell Canada Ltd
Shell has been operating in Canada since 1911 and employs approximately 8,000 people across the country. A leading manufacturer, distributor and marketer of refined petroleum products, Shell produces natural gas, natural gas liquids and bitumen, and is Canada's largest producer of sulphur. Shell is one of Canada's oil sands developers and operates the Athabasca Oil Sands Project on behalf of the joint venture partners.

SOURCE: Shell Canada Limited

Canadian Geographic: Please contact Deborah Chapman, Communications Manager at [email protected] or 1-613-745-4629.

Shell: Please contact Shell Media Relations at [email protected] or 1-877-850-5023. Please provide both your email and phone number.