Just in time for Earth Day®, Staples Canada awards over $500,000 in computer lab makeovers to eco-responsible schools across Canada
RICHMOND HILL, ON, April 19, 2012 /CNW/ - Staples Canada is giving over $500,000 worth of computer equipment to 20 schools across Canada in recognition of their eco-responsible improvements. The Staples Canada Eco Computer Lab Contest is one of many in a long list of environmental initiatives created and supported by Staples Canada.
Elementary and secondary public school students were asked to write a 300-word essay describing what their school is doing to make environmental improvements to their school and communities. The essays were then judged by four industry expert panelists: Jed Goldberg from Earth Day Canada, Scott Alic from Earth Cycle Planning, Wade Humphries from Direct Energy and Gordon Harrison from GreenLearning Canada. You can read more about each of the panelists here.
The winning schools were selected based on environmental attributes, school and student leadership and community influence. The winning schools demonstrated innovative environmental initiatives such as planting gardens, community clean ups and waste-less lunches.
"We were very impressed with the forward-thinking initiatives that these bright young students are participating in at school and in the community," said Steve Matyas, President of Staples Canada. "We're thrilled to provide new computer labs that will help them learn more about the environment."
The 20 schools being awarded $25,000 computer labs for their outstanding green efforts are:
- Mother Teresa High School - Ottawa, ON
- David Thompson Secondary School - Vancouver, BC
- École Sacré Coeur - Georgetown, ON
- Cedarview Middle School - Nepean, ON
- École Gron Morgan School - Thunder Bay, ON
- Mère d'Youville - Port Cartier - QC
- Lake Cowichan Secondary School - Lake Cowichan, BC
- Brookhaven Public School - Toronto, ON
- Langstaff Secondary School - Richmond Hill, ON
- Joseph Giles Elementary - Halifax, NS
- Agincourt Jr. Public School - Scarborough, ON
- Heritage Park Public School - Toronto, ON
- Seaquam Secondary School - Delta, BC
- École Élémentaire Catholique Saint Isidore - St. Isidore, ON
- Queen Street Public School - Brampton, ON
- Bowen Island Community School - Bowen Island, BC
- Annette Street Jr/Sr Public School - Toronto, ON
- Sacred Heart - Midland, ON
- Reynolds Secondary School - Victoria, BC
- Catherine-Soumillard - Lachine, QC
The Staples Canada Eco Computer Lab contest program was piloted in 2010 with one school being awarded a complete computer lab. It has since expanded to provide 20 Canadian schools with brand new computer labs. The program is open to all elementary and public schools across Canada. For more details, please visit www.staples.ca/recycleforeducation.
About Staples Canada's Environmental Initiatives
Staples Canada is committed to operating in an environmentally responsible manner. The retailer operates as an environmental advocate in all aspects of its business and demonstrates a commitment to sustainability in a variety of different ways, such as: offering a large selection of sustainable products; easy recycling services, including acting as drop-off locations for customers interested in properly recycling empty ink and toner cartridges, old cell phones and batteries as well as obsolete electronics. Staples Canada has also accomplished a great deal in the area of Energy Efficiency, converting stores and reducing electrical consumption. Staples Canada is also driving sustainable change and awareness within our communities supporting organizations such as Earth Canada and developing corporately funded programs such as the Staples Canada Recycle for Education Eco Computer Lab Contest, donating technology equipment and services to eco-responsible schools across the country.
About Staples Canada
Staples, Canada's largest office products company, is committed to providing Canadians with a wide choice of office services and products. Serving all types of business—from the small home office to large enterprise—Staples makes it easy for customers to operate their offices efficiently and affordably by offering an extensive selection of office supplies, technology, electronics and office furniture as well as business services, including computer repair and maintenance, and copy and print services. Operating as Bureau en GrosMC in the province of Quebec and Staples® Canada in all other provinces, the company employs over 15,000 associates at 320+ stores and at their head office in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Ranked as one of Canada's top five Canadian companies in Marketing Magazine's Marketing/Leger 2010 Corporate Reputation Survey, Staples/Bureau en Gros is dedicated to offering customers the highest level of service, whether they choose to shop in-store, by catalogue or online. Staples Canada/Bureau en Gros is also invested in a number of corporate giving programs that actively support environmental, educational and entrepreneurial initiatives in Canadian communities from coast to coast. Visit www.staples.ca for more information, or visit us on Facebook and Twitter.
Earth Day is a trademark of Earth Day Canada used with the permission of Earth Day Canada.
Alessandra Saccal-Tremblay
Public Relations Manager
STAPLES CANADA
(905) 737-1147x2363
[email protected]
Ashley Jang
Public Relations Specialist
STAPLES CANADA
(905) 737-1147x2426
[email protected]
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