Premier Announces Power of Positive Change Award

Students who believe in the peacemaking powers of pink stand to make a little green to help pay for their post-secondary education.

Premier Rodney MacDonald today, Sept. 11, announced a $25,000 awards program to recognize public school students who make a positive change in their schools and communities.

His announcement comes as students across Nova Scotia wear pink and participate in a range of activities to raise awareness about bullying in schools.

"There are few things in the world more powerful or more life-changing than a good deed," said Premier MacDonald. "Through this awards program, I want to encourage more students to challenge themselves to make a difference in their schools, in their neighbourhoods and in their province."

The Premier's Power of Positive Change Awards will be Registered Education Savings Plan grants, each worth $2,000. The prizes will be awarded annually to 10 Nova Scotia students attending grades Primary to 12. A student receiving the award in Grade 12 will have the option of taking the award as a bursary to their chosen college or university.

To be eligible, recipients must demonstrate leadership by organizing a school or community activity or show exemplary conduct in promoting positive attitudes or behaviour. Winners will be presented with awards at a reception hosted by the premier in June.

The premier and Education Minister Karen Casey joined students at John MacNeil Elementary School in Dartmouth to mark Stand Up Against Bullying Day in Nova Scotia.

Stand Up Against Bullying Day, proclaimed last year, is recognized on the second Thursday in September.

It was inspired by Central Kings Rural High School Grade 12 students Travis Price and David Shepherd who rallied behind a new student bullied simply for wearing a pink shirt. Within days, students across the province and around North America began wearing pink to support victims of bullying.

Wearing pink has become a powerful new symbol for students against bullying.

"The actions of these two young men, along with their fellow students who wore pink to school in support of another student, showed us all just how much of a difference individuals can make," said Ms. Casey. "On a day like this, it is important that we continue to remind each other of our responsibility to focus on promoting positive behaviour and respect in our schools."

She said schools in Nova Scotia work hard to promote healthy, safe and positive learning environments for students, most notably through Positive and Effective Behaviour Supports approach and school codes of conduct. Peace education, respect for ourselves and each other, as well as respect for diversity are also embedded in the curriculum.

Criteria for the Power of Positive Change Awards, nomination forms and the names of the eight-member committee that will co-ordinate the program will be available in early fall.

FOR BROADCAST:

Students who believe in the peacemaking powers of pink stand

to make a little green to help pay for their post-secondary

education.

Premier Rodney MacDonald today (September 11th) announced a

25-thousand-dollar awards program to recognize public school

students who make a positive change in their schools and

communities.

His announcement comes as students across Nova Scotia wear

pink or participate in other activities to raise awareness

against bullying in schools.

The Premier's Power of Positive Change Awards will be

presented to 10 students at a reception next June.

The awards will be registered Education Savings Plans, each

worth two-thousand dollars.