A total of 29 NWT schools across the Northwest Territories (NWT) took part in the annual campaign created to challenge students to come up with innovative ways to promote healthy drink options. Winning schools will be awarded prizes ranging from $500 to $2000 in recognition of their efforts to raise awareness about the importance of healthy living and positive choices. Highlights from this year’s winners: In the South Slave area, Chief Sunrise Education Center on the Hay River Reserve received $2000 to invite a guest teacher to discuss video production and to produce a video on healthy beverages. Students also participated in cultural activities related to water. Princess Alexandra School in Hay River received $1500 for taking part in a school-wide Drop the Pop challenge using posters and linking physical activity involving water. In the Deh Cho District Education Authority, Deh Gah Primary and High School received $1500 to provide teacher-led lessons on healthy choices and a poster campaign to ditch sugary drinks. In Yellowknife, Ecole St. Joseph received $1500 to promote Drink NWT Water and develop a Sugar Shocker display. Students also researched the impact of plastic water bottles on the environment. 2022 marks the 16th year for the Drop the Pop campaign.

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“Congratulations to the students across the NWT who participated in this year’s Drop the Pop challenge. Your innovations and creative ideas that support healthy living will show your peers how to adopt healthy lifestyles and make healthy beverage choices.” – Julie Green, Minister for Health and Social Services

Quick facts

Drop the Pop is an annual campaign supported by the Department of Health and Human Services that encourages students, families, schools and communities to: drink healthy drinks, especially water. eat a wide variety of healthy foods from the store and from local crops. to learn new skills and knowledge to be more self-sufficient and cultivate long-term healthy food and drink habits so families can maintain and/or improve their overall well-being. This is the 16th year for the Drop the Pop campaign. Sugary drinks contribute to obesity-related chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Participation in the annual Drop the Pop campaign was down this year due to school disruptions related to Covid-19.

For media requests, please contact: Jeremy BirdManager of CommunicationsDepartment of Health and Social ServicesGovernment of the Northwest Territories1-867-767-9052 ext. [email protected]