Make a Splash contest for Toronto students open for entries

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  March 23, 2015                 

Make a Splash contest for Toronto students open for entries

In celebration of World Water Day, the City of Toronto and RBC are launching the Make a Splash, Blue Water Contest for Toronto students. The contest invites elementary and secondary school students to share a story, memory or wish about Toronto’s waterways and say why it’s important to keep the waterways clean and healthy.

"The contest is a great way to engage students in creating a vision for Toronto’s waterways, and to remind us of the need to keep them healthy,” said Councillor Michelle Berardinetti (Ward 35 Scarborough Southwest), Chair of Parks and Environment Committee. “We’re delighted to partner with RBC on this initiative.”

“Water is one of our most important natural resources, and we all play a role in keeping Toronto's waterways clean for generations to come,” said Kim Mason, Greater Toronto Regional President, RBC. “Supporting kids and youth is something that we are very passionate about, so this contest is a natural fit for us – celebrating clean water by engaging the next generation of leaders in this city.”

Two winners will be selected, one from an elementary school and one from a secondary school. The schools will each receive $5,000 for a project to green the school, courtesy of RBC. In addition, the winning high school will be visited by an Olympic athlete, and the winning elementary school entry will be featured in a Kidoons Network Show. All top entries will be featured in a public display at various City and RBC locations.

The contest invites all types of entries, including stories, videos, dance, photography, poems and dioramas. Winners will be selected by a panel of City and RBC representatives and local artists.

Entries will be accepted from March 23 to May 22 at 5 p.m.

More information about the Make a Splash contest is available at http://www.livegreentoronto.ca

About RBC Blue Water Project

The RBC Blue Water Project is a historic, wide-ranging, 10-year global commitment to help protect the world’s most precious natural resource: fresh water. Since 2007, RBC has pledged nearly $41 million to more than 700 charitable organizations worldwide that protect water, with an additional $8.8 million pledged to universities for water programs. The RBC Blue Water Project is focused on supporting initiatives that help protect water in towns, cities and urbanized areas. For further information, visit www.rbc.com/bluewater.

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://bit.ly/1N0DtdT

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Valerie Cassells, Strategic Communications, 416-660-1712 (cell), vcassel@toronto.ca