Local students’ artwork draws attention to species at risk

NEWS RELEASE

SUSTAINABLE ORILLIA

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Several area students, family members, teachers and friends gathered at Creative Nomad Studios last Wednesday afternoon to receive cash awards for their submissions to Sustainable Orillia’s 2024 Art Contest, Ontario Species Need Your Help!

Their artwork was showcased during the evening and drew admiring comments from all who viewed them.

Sixteen of the students, both elementary and secondary, received $50 each for their artwork. Their pieces will be used in the 2024 Sustainable Orillia 2024 Ontario Species at Risk calendar — expected to be ready for sale by Sustainable Orillia’s Electric Vehicle and E-Boat Show to be held at Couchiching Park on Saturday, July 27. Mark your calendar for the event and to buy your 2025 calendar.

Congratulations to the elementary students whose work was chosen for this year’s calendar: Grace Buchanan, Carmen Conroy, Nora Handy, Kenny Hill, Jory Hill, Maddy Hoover, Fatima Khattak, Pyper Patchell, Tehya Snache, Tasha Valliere, and Moira Zimmerman.

Two high school students were awarded first ($200) and second ($100) prizes for their submissions: Elyse Zoltan (Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School) and Mariam Barrie (Orillia Secondary School). Four other Orillia Secondary School students — Riley Davidson, Triti Shah, Katelyn Wilson, and Olivia Zeng — and Twin Lakes Secondary School student Miranda Moore also won $50 prizes for their work. Congratulations to all on the quality of their artwork and the thoughtfulness of the comments they were asked to submit with the artwork.

The works of these 18 students will become the illustrations in Sustainable Orillia’s 2025 calendar. It is also our hope that we can feature the artwork in a Sustainable Orillia Student Art Show at Hibernation Arts on Peter Street as part of Sustainable Orillia Month in September.

Sustainable Orillia thanks these students for their participation in the 2024 contest — and the members of their families who turned out to show their support for the efforts of the young people. We’d also like to thank all students who entered work into the contest — the 309 entries was our biggest total yet for our annual contest — and encourage them to once again enter our 2025 contest. A big thank you as well to the teachers who encouraged and enabled their students to take a look at the Ontario species-at-risk list — leading to the artwork that was submitted.

Finally, our gratitude to Manticore Books, Scott’s Garden Centre and new sponsor this year, Jack & Maddy — A Kids’ Store for their sponsorship of this year’s contest. Our thanks to Creative Nomad Studios, also, for donating the gallery space for our presentation on Wednesday. Your support of the community’s young people — and Sustainable Orillia — is very, very much appreciated.

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