Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Launches Youth-Oriented 25@25 Contest

VANCOUVER, BC –– How often do think-tanks ask youth for their opinions? The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is doing just that.

The Foundation’s 25@25 Contest is launching on September 17th and will run until December 31st, 2009. The contest asks young Canadians (18-35) to share their vision for Canada’s Future with Asia. With a whopping $5000 grand prize, 25@25 sets out to identify the 25 most important issues for Canada-Asia relations.

The informational launch in Toronto will be held at the Asian Institute on October 13, 12:00-2:00. For details and registration: http://webapp.mcis.utoronto.ca/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=8137.

The contest is being launched to celebrate the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s 25th anniversary. It’s amazing how much things have changed since the organization was started in 1984, and how much more things are poised to change in the next 25 years.

“We’re eager to gain insight, especially from Canada’s youth about how what goes on in the Asia Pacific is seen to interact with and impact Canada. And that’s at the root of why we’re running the 25@25 contest, to help ignite a new dialogue that envisions Canada’s future with Asia,” says Hanna Cho, Project Manager for the 25@25 contest.

Entrants are invited to share their ideas as video shorts. The shorts can be presented in any style: Anything from a rant to camera to a visual collage, an animated short, or a mini-feature. By encouraging participants to articulate their ideas, the contest hopes to stimulate a dialogue about Canada-Asia relations that is as creative as the entries provided.

“Asia has never been more important to Canada, and Canadians know it. The goal of this contest is to bridge the gap between the current and next generation of Canadians interested in Asia,” says Yuen Pau Woo, President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

Entries will be judged by a diverse panel of Canada-Asia innovators: Yuen Pau Woo, President and CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation; Hon. Jack Austin, former Senator; Nanon de Gaspé Beaubien-Mattrick, Investment fund Manager; Hank Bull, co-founder of contemporary Asian art gallery Centre A; Gerri Sinclair, Executive Director of the Masters of Digital Media Program, SFU; Nobu Adilman, broadcaster and filmmaker; Ziya Tong, co-host and producer, Discovery Channel Canada and TBA, HSBC Bank Canada. Youth judges Nobu Adilman and Ziya Tong will be kicking off the contest with video letters available for viewing at www.25at25.ca.

For more details and information about the contest, please visit www.25at25.ca. 25@25 is a special project of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada with Presenting Sponsor HSBC Bank Canada and Official National Television Sponsor OMNI TV.