The City of Calgary announces winners of the Mayor’s Environment Expo Youth Photography Contest

Calgary – The 2013 Mayor’s Environment Expo team is pleased to announce that the overall winner of this year’s Youth Photography Contest is Amair Javaid of Crescent Heights High School. Amair received first place with a black and white photo of a hand holding a five dollar bill in The Story of Stuff category.

“Photography allows us to capture a brief moment that may otherwise have been forgotten. The image that is created will always be there to remind us of the significance of that very moment,” explains Amair Javaid. “This photo illustrates the deteriorating state of society under the pressure of consumerism and materialism.”

Taking second and third place is:

* Nicole Leismeister of Lester B. Pearson High School, Photo DJ (Mix it up!) category

* Carley Pledge of Crescent Heights High School, Cradle to Cradle category

Approximately eighty photos were submitted by Calgary students in the four categories of cradle to cradle, photo DJ (mix it up!), the story of stuff, and you are what you eat. They were narrowed down to the finalists in each category by a panel of judges following specific criteria. From the finalists, a panel of photography experts selected the overall top three winners.

“There were quite a number of captivating photos submitted this year,” explains Malcolm MacLean, contest judge. “Some managed to capture the truly endearing qualities of plants and animals, while others provided strikingly insightful commentary by showing us aspects of our daily life from a new perspective.”

As part of the Mayor’s Environment Expo, the photography contest encourages youth to consider the environment that surrounds them and to take action to protect it. Their resulting photographs tell a story of inspiration.

The presentations were made by Mayor Nenshi at the Museum of Contemporary Art on May 23, where all the final submissions were on display.

“Each of you has the power to make change,” said Mayor Nenshi. “That’s the philosophy behind the 3 Things for Calgary—encouraging every Calgarian to do three things to improve their community this year–each of us not only has the power but the responsibility to take action to make Calgary a better place to live.”

Photo submissions from the overall winners and finalists are available for media use at newsroom.calgary.ca.

The City of Calgary – Mayor’s Environment Expo, June 4-6

The Mayor’s Environment Expo fosters behaviour change through fun, educational and interactive exhibits and workshops aimed at youth. It ensures we have well-educated stewards that practice and promote environmental sustainability in Calgary.

Entering its 24th year, the Mayor’s Environment Expo engages and empowers over 3000 youth throughout the three days. To date, it has educated over 50,000 youth.

For more information: calgary.ca/mee

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The finalists and honourable mentions from each category are:

Cradle to cradle

* First Prize: Sarena Dharshi – Western Canada High School

* Second Prize: Natasha Jaffray - Crescent Heights High School

* Third Prize: Carley Pledge – Cresent Heights High School

* Honorable Mention: Shanna Welkert – Notre Dame High School

DJ (mix it up!)

* First Prize: Nicole Leismeister – Lester B. Pearson High School

* Second Prize: Sarah Reeder – Rundle Academy

* Third Prize: Alex Woelfle – Lord Beaverbrook High School

* Honorable Mention: Emily Dabbs – Lord Beaverbrook High School

The story of stuff

* First Prize: Sarena Dharshi – Western Canada High School

* Second Prize: Paige Webster – Samuel W. Shaw School

* Third Prize: Abigail Marie King – Notre Dame High School

* Honorable Mention: Amair Javaid – Crescent Heights High School

You are what you eat

* First Prize: Alex Woelfle – Lord Beaverbrook High School

* Second Prize: Paige Webster – Samuel W. Shaw School

* Third Prize: Amair Javaid – Crescent Heights High School

* Honorable Mention: Hasitha Jayathilake – Queen Elizabeth High School