Best Buy Canada awards more than $200,000 in technology grants to 12 elementary schools through its Best in Class Fund

From creating portable outdoor classrooms to technology discovery stations, this year's grants are helping develop creative new ways for students to learn

Announcement Highlights:

• Best Buy is awarding more than $200,000 in technology grants to 12 elementary schools across Canada
• This is the first year the program has been open to schools with students in Kindergarten through Grade 8
• Since 2008, Best Buy has awarded nearly $1 million in technology grants through the Best in Class Fund

BURNABY, BC, March 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Best Buy Canada has announced the winners of the 2011 Best in Class Fund. More than $200,000 in technology grants is being awarded to teachers and students to help fund creative new programs to enhance learning and incorporate new and updated technology into the classroom. The first year the program has been open to schools with students in Kindergarten through Grade 8, all entries showed a lot of creativity and imagination to answer the submission question: How do you plan to use the technology with your students to inspire and enhance their education?

The 12 schools to receive a technology grant are:

• Thomas Street Middle School - Mississauga, ON
• Mill Street Public School - Leamington, ON
• Sussex Elementary School - Sussex, NB
• John Lake School - Saskatoon, SK
• Noble Central School - Nobleford, AB
• St. John - Beamsville, ON
• Rawlinson Community School - Toronto, ON
• Champlain Heights - Vancouver, BC
• Glen Shields P.S. - Thornhill, ON
• Westmount Elementary - Moose Jaw, SK
• Bruce Trail Public School - Milton, ON
• Langley Meadows Community School - Langley, BC

Preparing students for the digital world they are growing up in is a key objective of the Best in Class Fund. Best Buy recognizes the importance of arming students with the tools they need to navigate through the evolving technology landscape to set them up for success in the future. Whether it's digital cameras for a photography lab, graphic design software for an art class or even musical instruments and recording technology for band, it's about merging traditional learning with new and current technology to best prepare students for their future.

The Best in Class Fund program was conceived in 2008 to inspire teachers and students to develop compelling educational projects that will advance learning through the integration of technology in the classroom.

About Best in Class

The Best in Class Fund Program began in 2008 and to-date Best Buy has donated nearly $1 million in technology grants to schools in Canada. The program is open to teachers with students in kindergarten through grade 8 at schools across Canada.

For more Best in Class information and submission guidelines, please visit www.BestBuy.ca/BestinClass.

About Best Buy Canada

Best Buy stores in Canada are a division of Burnaby, BC-based Best Buy Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY). We are Canada's fastest-growing retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics, computers and entertainment products. With over 70 Best Buy stores across Canada, we offer a unique shopping experience with the latest technology and entertainment products, at the right price, with a no-pressure (non-commissioned) sales environment. Every day our employees are committed to helping deliver technology solutions that enable easy access to people, knowledge, ideas and fun. We are keenly aware of our role and impact on the world, and we are committed to developing and implementing business strategies that bring sustainable technology solutions to our consumers and communities. For information about Best Buy Canada, visit www.BestBuy.ca

Danielle Jang
Best Buy Canada
604-412-1880
[email protected]