Halton challenges high school students to get creative and help raise awareness about affordable housing

For the third consecutive year, Halton Region is asking high school students to tap their creative juices and enter the annual Be a Hero. Be a Voice for Affordable Housing Contest. Created to help raise awareness about the need for more affordable housing in Halton, the contest is open to students in grades nine through 12 who attend school in Halton Region. Students are invited to develop an entry using their choice of format, such as video, design, song, or poetry that best captures why Halton needs more affordable housing. Full contest details and entry criteria can be found at www.halton.ca/beahero.

“Year after year, these students pour a tremendous amount of detail, creativity and innovation into their submissions,” says Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “It is wonderful to see Halton’s youth engaged in this issue that will affect their future. Their participation demonstrates a clear understanding about the importance of affordable housing and the vital role it plays in building a healthy and sustainable community.”

Cash prizes (Gold – $1000, Silver – $500, Bronze – $100 × 4) will be awarded to those students whose entries best depict why Halton needs more affordable housing. Entries will be judged by an independent panel of judges consisting of representatives from the local community and past contest winners. Winners will be announced and all entries will be on display at the Be a Hero. Be a Voice for Affordable Housing awards ceremony on November 18, 2009 at the Burlington Convention Centre.

In 2008, the top prize was awarded to the Technological Design class from Acton High School for their design of a fully accessible, green, affordable town house complex. The winning entry can be viewed at www.halton.ca/beahero.

This year’s contest is sponsored by the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, Peel-Halton Co-operative Housing Federation and Speaker’s Spotlight. Submissions for the contest are due by 4 p.m. on October 30, 2009. Students can visit www.halton.ca/beahero for contest details.

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