- Online voting is open now at www.tdfef.com/artcontest -

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2011 /CNW/ - Ten young nature enthusiasts have been selected as finalists in the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and Earth Day^® Canada Art Contest, which invited elementary students to submit a drawing of their favourite part of nature.  Canadians now have the opportunity to help select the winner by voting for their favourite entry at www.tdfef.com/artcontest. Voting ends on November 11, 2011.

More than 4,800 elementary students from Vancouver to St. John's entered the contest. The Top 10 Finalists hail from:

• École Riverdale Elementary, Surrey, BC
• École Bois-Joli, Dartmouth, NS
• Chief Julius School, Fort McPherson, NT
• Chaparral School, Calgary, AB
• Bishop EQ Jennings School, Thunder Bay, ON
• École Sun Valley School, Winnipeg, MB
• Edgewater Elementary School, Pincourt, QC
• St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School, Oakville, ON
• Greenwood Public School, Sault Saint Marie, ON
• Hummingbird Montesorri School, Creemore, ON

"From snowcapped mountains and majestic glaciers to towering ancient trees and wildlife, we are amazed by the unique and creative ways elementary school children illustrated their favourite part of nature," says Mary Desjardins, Executive Director, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF).  "I encourage Canadians to go online and view the extraordinary artwork submitted by these talented students and vote for their top pick."

The winning student will see their drawing featured on a limited-edition TD FEF reusable shopping bag and their school will receive a $7,500 grant to support environmental initiatives. The winning student will also receive a digital camera and a litterless lunchbox goes to each student in their class. The nine secondary winners will each receive $25 cash and a litterless lunch box and a $500 environmental grant goes to their schools,. The drawings may also be featured in the 2012-2013 edition of Earth Day Canada's EcoKids Calendar.

"The passion that Canada's young people have for the environment is strongly represented by the fabulous artwork submitted as part of this contest," says Jed Goldberg, President, Earth Day Canada. "It is reassuring to see that this generation considers the health of the environment to be such a major priority."

About TD FEF & Earth Day Canada Art Contest:

Canadian students in grades one through eight were invited to submit an original drawing that expressed the theme "my favourite part of nature." Ten finalists were chosen by a panel of judges, and the winning entry will be chosen by an online public vote. For full information and contest rules, please visit www.tdfef.com/artcontest.  Winners are scheduled to be announced on November 16, 2011.

About Earth Day® Canada:

Earth Day® Canada (EDC), a national environmental charity founded in 1990, provides Canadians with the practical knowledge and tools they need to lessen their impact on the environment. In 2004 it was recognized as the top environmental education organization in North America, for its innovative year-round programs and educational resources, by the Washington-based North American Association for Environmental Education, the world's largest association of environmental educators. In 2008 it was chosen as Canada's "Outstanding Non-profit Organization" by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication. EDC regularly partners with thousands of organizations in all parts of Canada. www.earthday.ca

About TD Friends of the Environment Foundation:

Since 1990, TD FEF has provided more than $55 million in funding to over 20,000 grassroots environment and wildlife projects across Canada. In 2010, TD FEF provided more than $3.5 million in support of 970 projects. Thousands of donors give to TD FEF on a monthly basis and TD Bank Group contributes in excess of $1 million annually. TD also covers the management costs of running TD FEF, which guarantees 100 per cent of every dollar donated goes directly to funding environment and wildlife projects in the community where the donation was made. For more information on how to donate and get involved in your community, visit www.tdfef.com.

Earth Day® is a trade-mark of Earth Day Canada (1991) Inc., used with the permission of Earth Day Canada (1991) Inc.