WEST VANCOUVER
West Vancouver student filmmakers showcase responsible waste management

A Grade 12 student from A Rockridge Secondary has won the top prize of $750 for training his camera lens on litter in West Vancouver's second annual student video contest.  

Students from kindergarten to Grade 12 helped show others why our waste is our responsibility, tackling the important issue of responsible waste management.

More than 40 creative videos were made by students with topics spanning litter, illegal dumping, responsible purchasing, how to recycle right and more.

School administrators embraced the challenge and engaged with their students, exploring responsibility around waste.

"There are costs associated with the items we dispose of and how we dispose of them, both to the residents of the municipality and to the environment," says Aaron Bichard, community programs coordinator for the District of West Vancouver. "This contest posed the question to students about what it means to be responsible when it comes to waste, and judging from the entries, West Vancouver students have a very clear understanding of why we all need to do our part."

First prize was awarded to Rockridge Secondary Grade 12 student Tavish Kelpin for his video titled Our waste, our responsibility.

First runner-up went to George Barrie, also a Grade 12 student from Rockridge Secondary, while second-runner up was earned by Sam Khoshnevis, a Grade 6 student from Ecole Pauline Johnson.

The Solid Waste Association of North America, Pacific Chapter sponsored the cash prizes.

Leanne Pruner's Grade 5 class at Ridgeview Elementary School submitted the most entries, earning the participation prize of a classroom zero waste pizza party.

West Vancouver's engineering department developed the student video contest to showcase challenges faced by the municipality, and to spur conversations with residents about important issues like water conservation, responsible waste management and transportation issues.

View the winning videos and all the submissions:

West Vancouver YouTube channel