2011 news releases

For major announcements, decisions, projects or campaigns, SGI circulates news releases to Saskatchewan media.

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SGI announces winners for The Decision

April 11, 2011

From left to right:
Inspector Matt Lowther from the RCMP, Principal Luc Lerminiaux from F.W. Johnson High School, student Laura Blattner from F.W. Johnson High School, Katie Betker from Students Against Drinking and Driving, Minister Responsible for SGI Tim McMillan and Sergeant Doug Coleman from the RCMP were on hand to celebrate when SGI announced that Laura Blattner and her school were winners in The Decision contest.

One Saskatchewan student enjoyed a red carpet moment this morning when SGI and Students Against Drinking and Driving (SADD) announced the winners of the contest component of their blockbuster ad campaign, The Decision, at her Regina school. The movie-trailer style ad about drinking and driving hit Saskatchewan theatres in November 2010 and encouraged viewers to go online and finish the story to win prizes for themselves and their school.

Minister Responsible for SGI Tim McMillan unveiled the winners, randomly drawn from over 3,400 entries.
They are:

• Laura Blattner of F. W. Johnson High School, Regina
• Tyler Cockburn of John Paul II Collegiate, North Battleford
• Charitee Lehner of Carlton Comprehensive High School, Prince Albert
• Chelise Martell of W. P. Sandin Composite High School, Shellbrook

Each student will receive a $2,500 electronics store gift card and their schools will each receive a cheque for $5,000.

“We had some really great entries for The Decision and it's clear that this innovative approach really engaged people. SGI will be using the responses to learn more about what young people think about the consequences of impaired driving,“ said McMillan.

A second ad was also unveiled at the announcement. It replays the first ad and finishes the story by showing a possible outcome of the drinking and driving collision.

“It's wonderful to see all the different story endings students submitted and how involved they're getting in the discussion. The second ad will help students consider all the people impacted by drinking and driving,“ said Katie Betker, President of Students Against Drinking and Driving (SADD).

Preliminary 2010 numbers show there were approximately 129 alcohol-related collisions in Saskatchewan involving drivers under 19 years of age, resulting in five fatalities and 81 injuries.

The first ad was viewed online more than 69 million times by people across Canada and in 35 other countries. The second part of The Decision is in theatres now. It's also available for viewing at www.thedecision.ca, along with samples of submissions made by student viewers, including the draw winners.