Backgrounder - Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition

The Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition was initiated by the Government of Canada in 1996 and encourages young people, aged 12 to 20, to produce a short video to express their points of view on eliminating racism.

The Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition is the major initiative of the Government of Canada in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

53 young award winners from across Canada were honoured at the Museum of Civilization for their successful entries in the 2009 Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition.

10 winning entries were edited earlier this month into 30-second public service announcements. CBC/Radio Canada began airing these announcements on March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

An independent national panel selected 10 winning videos based on their originality, audiovisual quality, and the effectiveness of their anti-racism message.

For the first time, the competition included the Public Choice Award. The public was invited to view the top fifty entries at YouTube and vote for their favourite. The team who produced the video chosen for the Public Choice Award were also recognized at today’s ceremony.

More than 1,200 students submitted 340 video presentations from schools throughout Canada.

In addition to students travelling to the National Capital Region to receive their certificates, their respective schools are being presented with a Panasonic Digital Camcorder.

Canada was one of the first countries to support the United Nations resolution making March 21 the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This day was proclaimed in 1966 to commemorate the Sharpeville massacre of March 21, 1960, when police killed 69 South Africans participating in an anti-apartheid demonstration.

The Government of Canada partnered with Panasonic Canada Inc., the National Film Board of Canada, CBC/Radio-Canada, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hotel Les Suites, and the Rideau Centre of Ottawa for the 2009 Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition.

For more information on the National Video Competition, please visit www.march21.gc.ca.