Staples Canada supports local school communities with technology to power online education

Due to COVID-19, classrooms across Canada have made the challenging transition to online learning. Providing students with the technology they need is now more important than ever. In an effort to support Canadian students and teachers during this time, Staples Canada has doubled the prize for the 2020 Superpower your SchoolTM Contest by awarding $200,000 to an additional 10 schools across Canada. In total, 20 school communities across Canada have been awarded $400,000 worth of technology from Staples Canada with support from Intel Canada. Held annually by Staples Canada in collaboration with EcoKids and Earth Day Canada, Staples awards new technology to schools across the country that show leadership through environmental initiatives.

As The Working and Learning Company, Staples Canada is committed to supporting Canadian students during this challenging time. Leading positive change in local Canadian communities has been important to Staples Canada for over 20 years. Many Canadian elementary and secondary school students are in need of technology to help them navigate learning from home. According to Statistics Canada, 58.4 per cent of households surveyed with internet access had less than one device per household member. As Canadian schools work to ensure every student has access to online learning, Staples Canada will work with school officials to ensure students are equipped with brand-new technology, including Chromebook laptops and other devices. With families preparing kids for digital education, Chromebooks have proven to be great, affordable tools to help kids at home continue to learn, whether it's finding online learning or collaborating with classmates.

"The driving force behind this contest has always been getting technology to students to support their educational growth. In today's environment, this is more important than ever," said David Boone, Chief Executive Officer, Staples Canada. "As a company passionate about working and learning, we have done a lot of work to ensure technology gets to the students who need it most. We are proud to be able to double the prize with support from Intel Canada and award 20 schools with technology in a time of great need."

The Superpower your SchoolTM Contest is held annually by Staples Canada in collaboration with EcoKids and Earth Day Canada to mark Earth Month. The contest recognizes Canadian schools paving the road to solidifying youth participation in environmental protection. As one of Canada's largest technology retailers, Staples Canada is proud to reward new technology to schools across the country to help ensure they have the devices they need to stay connected. The program first launched in 2011 and has awarded over $2 million in technology, including laptops and STEM products, to 110 schools. Winners were chosen by a panel of volunteer organizations with interest in sustainability.

"The winners were chosen because their entries truly inspired us. These students are leading the charge to teach current and future generations the importance of sustainable living," said Cristina Greco, Interim Executive Director, EcoKids. "During this uncertain time, technology is more important than ever to keep students and teachers connected to continue the great work they have been accomplishing all year. We are thrilled to work with Staples Canada and support their efforts to double the prize and award even more schools with technology essential to educational growth in this time."

Winners of the 2020 Superpower your SchoolTM Contest are:

Atlantic Canada

Elementary

Brian Peckford Primary, Triton, Newfoundland

West Northfield Elementary School, West Northfield, Nova Scotia

Secondary

St. Mary's Bay Academy, St. Bernard, Nova Scotia

École Marie-Esther, Shippagan, New Brunswick

Ontario

Elementary

Parkview Public School, Komoka, Ontario

École élémentaire catholique Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire, Crysler, Ontario

Secondary

Kapuskasing District High School, Kapuskasing, Ontario

Glenview Park Secondary School, Cambridge, Ontario

Quebec

Elementary

École alternative Harricana, Amos, Quebec

École Saint-Joseph, Baie-Trinité, Quebec

Secondary

École secondaire Jean‐Nicolet, Nicolet, Quebec

École secondaire de l'Érablière, St-Félix-de-Valois, Quebec

Western Canada

Elementary

Waldheim School, Elie, Manitoba

Juniper School, Thompson, Manitoba

Secondary

Elmwood High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Seven Oaks Met School, Winnipeg, Manitoba

British Columbia and Yukon

Elementary

Sensisyusten School - Westbank First Nation, Westbank, British Columbia

John Henderson Elementary School, Vancouver, British Columbia

Secondary

Mount Douglas Secondary School, Victoria, British Columbia

Richmond Secondary School, Richmond, British Columbia

"We hope the new technology allows these schools to connect in a meaningful way," Boone adds. "Thanks to our partners at Intel Canada, the new technology will allow these schools to better communicate with one another to ensure successful educational growth and connectivity in these unusual times."

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About Staples Canada

Staples Canada is The Working and Learning Company. With a focus on community, inspiration and services, the company is committed to being a dynamic, inspiring partner to customers who visit its 305 locations across the country and online at staples.ca. The company offers three co-working facilities in Toronto, Kelowna and Oakville under the banner Staples Studio. Since its transformation to The Working and Learning Company, Staples Canada has been demonstrating a renewed commitment to small businesses and consumers, through expanded services that go beyond printing in Solutionshop, thousands of new products, tech services, special events, and informative content with the Spotlight Speaker Series and newly-launched blog. A privately-owned company, Staples Canada is dedicated to helping its customers work, learn and grow. Visit staples.ca for more information, or get social with @StaplesCanada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Staples Canada ULC

For further information: Alessandra Saccal, Staples Canada, 905-737-1147 Ext. 2363, JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING; Kathleen Stelmach, Staples Canada, 905-737-1147 Ext. 2714, JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING; David Dwyer, Golin, 647-828-0140, JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING