2016/2017 Drop the Pop Campaign Winners Announced

YELLOWKNIFE (July 14, 2017) – Glen Abernethy, Minister of Health and Social Services, announced the 14 schools chosen as winners of the 2016-17 Drop the Pop campaign.

This years’ theme for Drop the Pop was Drop the Pop and Ride the Wave. Throughout the Northwest Territories 49 schools participated in Drop the Pop and used funding provided by the GNWT to promote healthy foods and beverage choices. This is Drop the Pop’s 11^th anniversary and students continue to find creative ways to support healthy choices in theirs schools and in their communities with initiatives that range from posters to research projects with elders.

The winning schools will be awarded prizes ranging from $500 – $3,000 in recognition of their activities for the annual campaign.

Initiatives like Drop the Pop contribute to the 18^th Legislative Assembly’s priority of creating opportunities for healthy lifestyles and community leadership for our youth.

Quote

“Drop the Pop is a long-standing and successful program in our NWT schools. All schools that encourage healthy behaviours in students are winners, but I want to applaud the winners this year for their creativity, hard work and outstanding activities. I look forward to the continued effort by schools and students to keep the momentum going to “Drop the Pop.”

-Glen Abernethy, Minister of Health and Social Services

Quick facts:

This is the 11^th year for the Drop the Pop campaign.
Drop the Pop is an annual campaign that encourages students, families, schools and communities to:
- drink healthy beverages, especially water;
- eat a wide variety of healthy, local foods from the land;
- learn new skills and knowledge in order to be more self-sufficient, and;
- Foster long-term healthy food intakes so families can maintain and/or improve their overall well-being.
Sugary drinks contribute to obesity-related chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes.
Canada’s Food Report Card 2016 (Conference Board of Canada) shows that the rate of obesity in male youth aged 12-17 is the second highest in Canada.

Snapshots of school projects

Chief Paul Niditchie School held a community-wide “Drop the Pop” fair in Tsiigehtchic. It was a combined effort between the school, band, and health centre staff.
Kaw Tay Whee School in Dettah organized a “Drop the Pop” student leadership team. The team Students designed hands-on activities, which included a TV game show to encourage healthy eating and drinking water and milk.
Kakisa Community School researched the benefits of drinking water and hosted elder-led discussions on traditional importance of water, how water was obtained and used.

2016/2017 Drop the Pop Campaign Winners Announced

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