Does your youngster like to make videos? The RCMP is holding an anti-drug video contest that offers kids a great chance to use their skills and creativity.
Students in Grades 7 to 12 are welcome to submit videos that promote a drug-free lifestyle. The winning clips will be shown in schools as part of the new RCMP Canadian Champions youth engagement initiative.
But everybody wins by getting involved. Participants can get as creative as they want, earn some “cred” as videographers and have a positive impact on their peers.
The prizes are pretty sweet too! A Canadian Olympic hockey jerseys signed by Sidney Crosby, Toronto Blue Jays T-shirts signed by Brett Lawrie and Adam Loewen and iPod Touchs are all up for grabs.
Videos must be between 30 and 60 seconds in length and can be in English or French. They can address the benefits of being drug free, the successes and accomplishments achieved as a result of being drug free, tips on dealing with peer pressure or what inspires youth to stay drug free.
“This is a way young people could have a real impact – a positive impact – on their peers and have a lot of fun doing it,” says Sgt. Keith MacKinnon, of the RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness Service (DOCAS). “The winners will get bragging rights and we will post a link to their video on the RCMP website.”
The contest is part of the Canadian Champions program, which offers youth a variety of information and tools to make informed choices and become ambassadors of a drug-free lifestyle. Central components of the program are a 26-minute English video and a 25-minute French video that feature 19 well-known Canadian athletes and celebrities speaking about the importance of being drug free. They include NHLer Sidney Crosby, World Champion diver Alexandre Despatie, Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry, singer Mitsou Gélinas and Toronto Blue Jay Brett Lawrie.
There is also an online teaching guide to assist educators in discussing the issues raised by the video and engaging with youth about drugs. The goal is to send a powerful message to help youth rise above peer pressure and become champions of their own lives as well as in the lives of others in their schools and communities.
The video contest closes April 28, 2013. For full contest rules and submission information, visit: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cc/videocontest-concoursvideo-eng.htm
For more information on the Canadian Champions initiative or to view the celebrity video, visit: http://www.rcmp.gc.ca/canadianchampions
