TORONTO, Nov. 3 /CNW/ - Every year, on the first Wednesday of November, thousands of grade nine students participate in Take Our Kids to Work(TM) program. This Wednesday November 4, 2009 approximately 250,000 students take part in a day long job shadowing experience at approximately 75,000 businesses and organizations across Canada.

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.

This year, 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 was 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, meeting 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."

"Take Our Kids To Work Day is undeniably a great opportunity for students," said Sylvia Chrominska, Scotiabank Group Head, Global Human Resources and Communications. "Scotiabank is proud to give students the chance to explore the working world from an insider's perspective and help expose them to the type of skills and abilities they need to get through a typical work day, tools that they may not be demonstrated in a classroom."

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.

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.