Sixteen Schools Receive 2018-19 NWT Drop the Pop Awards

July 18, 2019

Glen Abernethy, Minister of Health and Social Services, announced the 16 schools chosen to receive awards as part of the 2018-19 Drop the Pop campaign.

Forty-eight NWT schools participated in the 2018-2019 Drop the Pop challenge using funding to promote healthy foods and beverages. The winning schools will be awarded prizes ranging from $800 – $1,500 in recognition of their activities for the annual campaign.

Some of the highlights from this year’s winners included:

Students and families in Tsiigehtchic accepted the challenge to “Drop the Pop” and saved $1,918 by not buying pop for the month of October.
Student leadership in several schools organized Drop the Pop fairs to show the effects of sugary drinks on the body.
Students at Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte engaged Elders in making traditional beverages and learning about the importance of water.
Students conducted healthy beverage surveys and shared findings during school assemblies.

Drop the Pop is one of many initiatives that support the 18th Legislative Assembly’s priority of creating opportunities for healthy lifestyles and community leadership for our youth.

Quote:

“Sugary beverages and low-nutrient food can negatively affect children’s health. Initiatives like the Drop the Pop provide opportunities for students to learn about the effects of drinking sugary beverages and encourages leadership skills when it comes to making healthy lifestyle choices. Congratulations to all winners and participants of this year’s Drop the Pop challenge. ”
-Glen Abernethy, Minister of Health and Social Services

Quick Facts

Drop the Pop is an annual campaign supported by the Department of Health and Social Services 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 and beverage habits so families can maintain and/or improve their overall wellbeing.
This is the 13th year for the Drop the Pop campaign.
Sugary drinks contribute to obesity-related chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes.

Sixteen Schools Receive 2018-19 NWT Drop the Pop Awards

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