November 22, 2006

Alyssa Kusik of Algonquin School, Robyn Kowalchuk of St. Martin’s School and Morning Star DesRosier of C.D. Howe have all proven their artistic talents in a Brown Bag Art Contest. They are the recipients of prizes that include a DVD player, MP3 player, CD holder and various gift certificates based on their entries among over 500 Grade 5 & 6 students from across the city. Brown paper shopping bags were decorated with the theme “Drugs Aren’t Cool” in the hopes of reaching others and in the process, winning prizes. Participating classes also had an opportunity to win one of three Pizza Parties.

The winning bags will be on display all week at Quality Market in Centennial Square. All other entries will be used for bagging groceries for shoppers at Quality Market (both locations) and will contain information to help parents and caregivers talk with their youth about drugs and alcohol.

The contest targeted youth ages 10 to 11 to respond to evidence that shows that it is at this stage that young people begin to form opinions about behaviours that will impact their health over the course of their life regarding drinking, smoking cigarettes and using substances.

According to the Northwestern Ontario Student Drug Use Survey of 2001, by grade six, 20% of youth had tried alcohol. First time use for alcohol, cigarettes and illicit drugs peaks in grade nine.

November 20, 2006 to November 26th is Drug Awareness Week.  The contest was held by the Drug Awareness Committee of Thunder Bay in partnership with the Sister Margaret Smith Centre and Quality Market.

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