First Annual HERE IS CANADA! Contest Opens Call for Entries

Nationwide artistic contest for young Canadians

PAQUETVILLE, NB, March 1, 2012 /CNW/ - The Collectivité ingénieuse de la Péninsule acadienne (CIPA) Inc., in partnership with Canadian Heritage's Youth Takes Charge program, announces its call for entries for the Here is Canada! contest.  Participants will have the chance to win $5,000 and a trip to Ottawa with their family to attend the broadcast of their artwork during the Canada Day ceremonies. 

All submissions must be received no later than March 31, 2012 in order to be eligible. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2012. For more information about the awards program and to apply, participants are encouraged to visit: www.hereiscanada.ca. 

"CIPA and Canadian Heritage hope to encourage healthy competition and promote youth engagement through an innovative and structured national competition," said Vikie Thériault, CIPA project manager. "The contest is designed specifically to encourage our youth to excel in their creative skill and think seriously about what makes them proud to be Canadian."

Details and rules of the competition may be found at http://hereiscanada.ca/faq.  The submitted works will be shortlisted to 52 semi-finalists then four grand winners (one per age group) will be chosen by a panel of CIPA judges.  Best of the 1300 submissions (100 per province and territory) will remain on exhibit online at www.hereiscanada.ca.

About the Here is Canada! contest

Newly established in 2012, Here is Canada! recognizes and supports  creative young Canadians aged 7-18.  The contest is designed to encourage youths to nurture their artistic talent and Canadian pride in a shared online forum.  Four prizes of $5,000 CAD will be awarded to the grand winners; one per age category.  Winners will also be invited to an all-expense paid trip to Ottawa with three members of their family to claim their prize.

About CIPA

CIPA Inc., whose offices are located in Paquetville in the heart of the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick, is a non-profit corporation founded in 2000, as part of Industry Canada's Smart Communities project, the federal government's vision and plan to make Canada the most connected country in the world. CIPA's mission is to design, develop and deploy creative solutions for socio-economic development in rural areas by building stronger communities and promoting knowledge and know-how.

For further information:

Alda Lo

416-413-4656

[e-mail]