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Spring Creek students win at B.C. Green Games

Study on plastic in the environment wins $1,000
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Jane Millen's Grade 6 class at Spring Creek Community School in Whistler has come out on top at the B.C. Green Games.

Along with being named one of 10 winners in the elementary school category, the class has brought back $1,000 in prize money, which will be spent on ongoing or new environmental initiatives.

Millen's class carried out a video project called "Plastic Hurts," outlining the harm caused by plastic waste and entered it in the competition, which was put on by Science World in Vancouver.

It started with the Great Canadian Cleanup of the shoreline at Alta Lake Park.

"The kids picked up garbage and we sorted it and after that we learned about the impact of plastic on the earth and we started with an article about Toronto wanting to ban plastic bags," Millen said in an earlier interview.

The students had a presentation made to them on zero waste and followed this up by writing a letter to Whistler council and made a presentation to councillors on why the resort should ban plastic bags.

"We are so thrilled to be winners! We are debating what to do with the $1,000," Millen said in an email this week.

She added that they had been in contact with the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment, the Whistler Centre for Sustainability and others to discuss how to extend their project.

Millen said her students had "gained a huge understanding of the process of making change, the effort it takes."

"I congratulate Mme Millen and all of the students for their inspiration and dedication to making a difference," said Spring Creek's principal, Karen Saenger, in a release.