Best Buy Canada School Tech Grant program awards elementary schools with funding for new tech

Grants support programs including robotics, coding, math literacy, and makerspaces

BURNABY, BC, Oct. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Best Buy Canada is proud to announce that 17 elementary schools across the country have been selected to receive funding of up to $10,000 each through the Best Buy School Tech Grant program.

The recipient schools will use these grants to give students access to the latest in computer and digital technology, helping to keep students motivated and engaged as they learn and grow. The tech upgrades will support programs such as robotics clubs, makerspaces, tech for youth at-risk, programming classes, and, an all-girl coding club at an inner city school.

"We were overwhelmed by the interest for this year's elementary school grants," said Andrea MacBeth, Best Buy Canada's Community Relations Manager. "The key to success for our recipients was the passion of the teachers and principals who outlined how additional technology would provide their students with unique experiences, new ways of finding success in the classroom and, in some cases, the potential to change the trajectory of their lives."

The 17 schools receiving a Best Buy School Tech Grant are:

• Arrowview Elementary School - Qualicum Beach, BC
• Tecumseh Elementary School - Vancouver, BC
• Spruceland Traditional Elementary School - Prince George, BC
• Cold Lake Elementary School - Cold Lake, AB
• Legal School - Legal, AB
• St. Mary's School - Yorkton, SK
• Oakenwald School - Winnipeg, MB
• J.H.Putman Public School - Ottawa, ON
• Nelson Mandela Park Public School - Toronto, ON
• Princess Anne Public School - Sudbury, ON
• St. Elizabeth School - Wallaceburg, ON
• St. Vincent de Paul School - Cambridge, ON
• Valley View Public School - Greenwood, ON
• Birchwood Elementary School - St. Lazare, QC
• École Saint-Benoît - Montréal, QC
• Loch Lomond Elementary School - Saint John, NB
• Athena Consolidated School - Summerside, PE

In addition to these schools, and in partnership with My Class Needs, Best Buy awarded 13 elementary school classrooms with micro-grants of up to $1,500 for technology to support programs in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math.

"We were impressed by the diverse and innovative micro-grant submissions from teachers across Canada, said Amy Coupal, My Class Needs CEO. "Thanks to Best Buy's support, more students will have new, unique STEM learning opportunities."

The schools receiving micro-grants are:

• Fort Rupert Elementary - Port Hardy, BC
• Holly Elementary - Surrey, BC
• Hjorth Road Elementary - Surrey, BC
• Dr. K.A. Clark Elementary School - Fort McMurray, AB
• Leduc Estates School - Leduc, AB
• Prince Edward Public School - Windsor, ON
• Smithson Public School - Kitchener, ON
• St. Patrick Catholic School - Burlington, ON
• Our Lady of Peace - Laval, QC
• Twin Oaks Elementary School - Laval, QC
• Inglis Street Elementary - Halifax, NS
• Dutch Settlement Elementary School - Dutch Settlement, NS
• Rennie's River Elementary - St. John's, NL

"We are delighted to partner with My Class Needs to bring new, innovative technology to these classrooms," added MacBeth.

All thirty schools will receive their funding in the coming weeks and celebrations will happen at the School Tech Grant recipient schools with the support of local Best Buy teams.

Best Buy Canada focuses its community investment on supporting youth to connect with technology to inspire, motivate and empower their education. Through this mission, Best Buy has provided more than 130 Canadian schools with grants to purchase new technology, in addition to offering post-secondary scholarships and supporting youth with hands on tech learning opportunities.

In the coming months, Best Buy School Tech Grants will offer secondary schools the opportunity to apply for funding for new technology. Educators interested in being notified when grants are next available can email [email protected].

For more information about Best Buy's community investments, visit www.BestBuy.ca/Community.

About Best Buy
As a wholly owned subsidiary of Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY), Best Buy Canada Ltd. is one of Canada's largest and most successful omni-channel retailers, operating the Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile and Geek Squad (www.geeksquad.ca) brands. With nearly 200 Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores across Canada, and an expanded assortment of lifestyle products offered through BestBuy.ca, Best Buy is a leader in Total Retail, catering to customers how, when, and where they want to shop. Best Buy Canada is committed to making a positive impact in the community with programs and partnerships that support youth to connect with technology to advance their education. For more information visit BestBuy.ca.

SOURCE Best Buy Canada

Media contact: Christine Tam, E : [email protected], T : 778.229.7532