Chandler from Claresholm, Alberta meets Canada's PM

    I want to grow up to be a Manga artist! (Note: Manga is the Japanese word
    for comics.) I lost my hearing when I was 3 years old and drawing has
    always been a good way for me to communicate. But now it is my best
    talent! I practice drawing every day and I dream about making people
    enjoy and laugh when they read my comics

TORONTO, Oct. 27 /CNW/ - To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Take Our Kids to Work(TM), The Learning Partnership in partnership with Scotiabank, launched a national online photo contest. After a tremendous response a winner has been chosen for the 6 week Ultimate Dream Job Photo Contest. With a dream of one day becoming a manga artist - a Japanese inspired comic designer - a grade 9 student from Claresholm, Alberta, will be spending Take Our Kids to Work day, Wednesday November 4th, with the leader of our country, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper in Ottawa.

"The success of the Ultimate Dream Job Contest has been a testament to the importance of the Take Our Kids to Work program," says Veronica Lacey, President and CEO of The Learning Partnership. "Now in its 15th year this program encourages grade 9 students to contemplate their dreams and visualize their futures and this contest provided a creative way for the students to showcase their aspirations."

"Congratulations to Chandler and the students who participated in the Ultimate Dream Job photo contest," said Sylvia Chrominska, Scotiabank Group Head, Global Human Resources and Communications. "At Scotiabank, we consider the important role that arts, culture and education play in our communities, and by supporting an opportunity like this one with the Learning Partnership, the Bank hopes to give young people skills, tools and experiences to develop their potential, ultimately enriching themselves and the broader community around them."

With her whole community rallying behind her, the wonderful story of this student's dream to one day be able to communicate through her creativity warmed the hearts of many and got over 4000 votes!, to win the contest.

Each week the five best photos were displayed on-line for public voting. The weekly winner was placed in the Grand Prize Gallery where, at the end of six weeks, the public voted for the winner. The Grand Prize Winner receives a return flight from their home town to Ottawa, with their parent/guardian, to meet The Right Honourable Stephen Harper. While in Ottawa they will tour national attractions like Parliament Hill, The National Gallery of Canada, The Royal Canadian Mint and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. When she returns to school, she will also host a Pizza Pizza class party for her homeroom class (up to a maximum of 30).

Also, congratulations to three schools which had the most entries throughout the duration of the six week contest and have won $1,000 courtesy of Scotiabank: Bruno Central - Bruno Saskatchewan, Netagamiou School - Chevery, Quebec, and Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute - Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The Learning Partnership is proud of its 15 year relationship with Scotiabank, which has built this program into a nationally recognized initiative, supported by every province and territory. Take Our Kids to Work is The Learning Partnership's signature program; it connects young people with the world of work. The goal of the program is to give as many young Canadians as possible the opportunity to explore career options and interests, and to ensure that the opportunity results in a meaningful, educational and safe experience.

Take Our Kids to Work is an initiative created by The Learning Partnership, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to championing a strong public education system in Canada. Take Our Kids to Work enables students to job shadow a parent, relative or volunteer host and to experience first hand some of the career options that will be available to them. Each year approximately 250,000 students participate at about 75,000 workplaces across Canada.

Established in 1993, The Learning Partnership is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to championing a strong public education system in Canada through innovative programs, executive leadership, credible research, policy initiatives and public engagement with its partners. Since its inception, more than four million students and leaders in education have participated in one or more of TLP's programs, including Take Our Kids to Work(TM), Welcome to Kindergarten(TM), and Entrepreneurial Adventure.

Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2008 the Bank provided about $43 million in sponsorships and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas of healthcare, education, social services and arts and culture. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.