BC Mind Grind Finals

Students from the North and Central Okanagan, the Okanagan Similkameen, Kootenay Boundary and Kamloops proved they know a great deal about environmental issues by competing in the Terasen Gas Environmental Mind Grind B.C. Play-offs Saturday at Okanagan College.

With hundreds of parents, friends, and fellow students cheering them on Coldstream Elementary from the North Okanagan won the highly contested Elementary School Division. Wiltse Elementary from Okanagan Similkameen came second.

Princeton Secondary from Okanagan Similkameen were the winners of the Middle School Challenge, and W.L. Seaton from the North Okanagan placed second.

Rutland Senior Secondary Team Number One won the High School Challenge. Kalamalka Secondary Team Number One from the North Okanagan placed second. South Okanagan Secondary from the Okanagan Similkameen picked up special honors for Most Sportsmanlike Team.

First place teams receive $1000 for their school and fleece vests for themselves. Each first place team will also get their school’s name engraved on custom handcrafted environmental trophies. Second placed teams receive $100 dollars for their school.

The partners in Environmental Education who organized the ‘Mind Grind” include the Regional Waste Reduction Office, the City of Kelowna Environment and Transportation Divisions, Regional Parks and Recreation Services, Terasen Gas, the Council of Forest Industries, Water Smart, the Regional Districts of North and Central Okanagan, Okanagan Similkameen, Kootenay Boundary, and the City of Kamloops.