Students from New Westminster Secondary the first of 10 finalists to receive grant of up to $5,000 to launch an in-school initiative that promotes inclusivity
CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Shaw Communications Inc. today announced the first of its Shaw Kindness Sticks Youth Grant recipients that will kickstart projects and initiatives in Canadian schools that encourage positivity, respect and inclusivity.
After receiving over 150 submissions from across Canada, Simran Grewal and Kate Choi of New Westminster Secondary school in New Westminster, BC are the first of 10 finalists to receive a grant of up to $5,000 to launch their initiative in their school.
Grewal and Choi have used the funds provided by Shaw to expand the Best Buddies Club at their school, providing opportunities for students with diverse learning needs to make friends and teach others about the importance of inclusivity and acceptance.
“The motivation was to provide a room where kids from the entire school—especially the kids in the Best Buddies Club—can go to play games together, whether they are videogames or board games,” said Sarah Wethered, Teacher, New Westminster Secondary School. “I think the benefits will be having the groups come together and build friendships.”
“Every single submission we received through the Shaw Kindness Sticks program demonstrated the compassion, creativity and thoughtfulness of Canadian kids and youth,” said Chethan Lakshman, Vice President, External Affairs, Shaw Communications. “Simran and Kate have inspired us with their ideas and we can’t wait to see the impact that the Best Buddies Club will have on the lives of others in their classroom, their schools and their communities.”
The 10 Shaw Kindness Sticks grant recipients were selected by a panel of judges comprised of athletes, icons and community builders. The top 10 submissions were selected based on the impact, reach and creativity of the proposed program. Judges also considered the opportunities for youth engagement and volunteering that each program provides.
The Kindness Sticks judges include:
- Eric Radford, 2018 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Pairs Figure Skating, Gold Medalist Team Event
- Meagan Duhamel, 2018 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Pairs Figure Skating, Gold Medalist Team Event
- Emmanuel Arceneaux, Wide Receiver, BC Lions
- Andrew Harris, Running Back, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Mike Downie, Multi-award-winning Filmmaker, Co-founder of the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund
- Rick Hansen, Founder and CEO, Rick Hansen Foundation
- Meisha Watson, YTV ‘The Zone’ Host
- Elsie Morden, Singer-Songwriter, Motivational Speaker
- Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater, WITS program evaluator
- Judi Fairholm, Director, CanadianRed Cross RespectED program
- Alayne Crawford, Director, Government Relations, Shaw
The remaining grant recipients will continue to be individually announced online throughout fall of 2018.
To follow the stories of the top 10 submissions and for more information on the judges, please visit Shaw.ca/KindnessJudges.
About Shaw
Shaw Communications Inc. is a leading Canadian connectivity company. The Wireline division consists of Consumer and Business services. Consumer serves residential customers with broadband Internet, Shaw Go WiFi, video and digital phone. Business provides business customers with Internet, data, WiFi, digital phone and video services. The Wireless division provides wireless voice and LTE-Advanced data services through an expanding and improving mobile wireless network infrastructure.
Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX – SJR.B, SJR.PR.A, SJR.PR.B, NYSE – SJR, and TSXV – SJR.A). For more information, please visit www.shaw.ca
For media inquiries, please contact:
Shaw Communications Inc.
Chethan Lakshman, VP, External Affairs
(403) 930-8448
chethan.lakshman@sjrb.ca