Best Overall EntryA Rock Solid Look At Mining

Keith LaPlume
St. Peter's Secondary School
Barrie 

$5,000 Prize

Best Directing

Let's Talk Mining

Brad Jennings
Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School
Strathroy 

$2,500 Prize

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

The Importance of Mining in Canada

Meaghan Butler
South Secondary School
London 

$2,500 Prize

Best Music (Original Score & Lyrics)

Music Without Mining

DJ Nichol
H. B. Secondary School
London 

$2,500 Prize

Best Comedy

Glories of Mining

Jeremy Kozelj
St. Paul Secondary School
Mississauga 

$2,500 Prize

2009 Award Ceremony

OMA announced the winners of the inaugural SYTYKM competition at a May 10, 2009 gala event in Toronto. The exclusive awards ceremony video was produced for the OMA by Dexxter Hadland and Harrison Kozak from Woodstock Collegiate Institute. Their SYTYKM entry was recognized by the judges as a top runner up in the competition. Who better to offer you a glimpse of the celebration than this talented team of Ontario students?

The video-makers received a $500.00 honorarium. In addition, the OMA donated a high definition flash camcorder in Dexxter and Harrison's names to the Communications Technology Program at Woodstock Collegiate Institute.

Thank you!

The OMA would like to offer thanks to those who assisted with the awards ceremony and to the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum for providing us with a prestigious venue to roll out the red carpet.

A special thanks goes to the SYTYKM judging panel of Jack Blum, actor, writer, producer and co-founder of REEL Canada, which promotes Canadian films; Dominique Dionne, Vice President Corporate Affairs for OMA member Xstrata Nickel; Jessica Grillanda, Coordinator of the Broadcast and New Media program at Cambrian College in Sudbury; Nicholas Pagee, Coordinator, Youth Learning for the Toronto International Film Festival Group (and presenter extraordinaire!); and Dennis Watson, Vice President and General Manager of CTV Southwestern Ontario.

We are grateful to the mining industry executives who gamely took on the role of award presenters, normally reserved for Hollywood stars: George Burns, Vice President, Canada & USA, Goldcorp Canada; Patricia Dillon, Director, Employee Communication and Engagement, Industry Relations, Teck Resources Limited; Dominique Dionne, Vice President Corporate Affairs for Xstrata Nickel; Parviz Farsangi, Chief Operating Officer for Vale Inco; Jim Gowans, President and CEO, De Beers Canada; Ingrid Hann, Vice President Human Resources, De Beers Canada; Jean Vavrek, Executive Director, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum; as well as the hosts of the event: George Flumerfelt, President of J.S. Redpath Limited and OMA Chair, and Chris Hodgson, OMA President.

Last, but not least, thank you to Carol ShawMoira Skikavich and numerous other dedicated teachers, who used the opportunity provided by SYTYKM to inspire their students to work hard, take creative risks and reach for the stars!