Photo by Angela Gzowski/Courtesy of GNWT
Two schools in Hay River and surrounding area are among the winners of the 2019-2020 Drop the Pop campaign.
Chief Sunrise Education Centre on the Hay River Reserve won $1,000 for having students track their healthy drink consumption and offering learning sessions about the difference between sugary drinks and water. Plus, it produced a monthly calendar detailing the sugar content of beverages.
Princess Alexandra School in Hay River was awarded $1,875 for promoting Drop the Pop on a bulletin board, providing morning announcements about healthy living and offering healthy breakfast choices.
In its 14th year, Drop the Pop is an initiative by the GNWT to reduce the consumption of sugary beverages.
On Aug. 24, Health and Social Services Minister Diane Thom announced the 16 schools chosen to receive awards as part of the campaign.
"Congratulations to all winners and participants of this year's Drop the Pop challenge," Thom said in a news release. "Sugary beverages and low-nutrient food can negatively affect children's health. Drop the Pop provides learning opportunities for students about how food choices are important to their health as they grow."
Curtis Brown, the superintendent of the South Slave Divisional Education Council, called Drop the Pop a valuable program, adding he was very pleased several schools in the region were selected for recognition.
"The Drop the Pop program provides some funding that schools can apply on to put in place little initiatives to discourage the drinking of pop and sugars," Brown said.
Forty-five NWT schools participated in the 2019-2020 Drop the Pop challenge.
The winning schools were awarded cash prizes in recognition of their activities and creative efforts for the annual awareness campaign.
Sugary drinks contribute to tooth decay and obesity-related chronic diseases.