During the season finale of the Rick Mercer Report tonight on CBC TV, the spotlight will shine on Beaverly elementary.
On March 8, the school won top honours as Canada's top fundraising elementary school in the 10th annual Spread the Net Student Challenge.
The school and its students were thanked personally by Mercer, co-founder of Spread the Net, and Plan International Canada as the first place winner for raising a total of $26,900.
"We worked very hard to raise money but it was definitely a team effort," said principal Jill Jackson.
"Everyone helped and it's pretty amazing considering we are one of the smaller schools to participate."
The determination was clear as the school's 197 students held raffles, bake sales, a talent show, an art auction and sold chocolate and candy canes in an effort to help those in need.
"This gives kids awareness knowing there are other kids in more need than they are. It gives them more of a global perspective to help others," Jackson said.
The school also received donations online from Prince George and all across Canada as well as a generous donation of $3,000 from Pinnacle Renewable Energy.
"For the students, it was about raising money to help save lives," Jackson said.
The nationwide challenge is a competition between schools all across Canada to help raise funds for malaria-preventing bed nets in Africa.
This year, more than 50 schools raised close to $150,000 for bed nets that will prevent malaria-infected mosquitoes from biting children and their families as they sleep. More than 400,00 people die of malaria each year, most under five years old.
"Year after year, I'm amazed by the young Canadians who participate in the Spread the Net Challenge and find new and creative ways to raise funds and awareness for the global fight against malaria," said Mercer.
"Schools have gone all out for the tenth year of Spread the Net and the enthusiasm from students across the country is remarkable."
Since 2007, more than 800 elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools across Canada have participated in the challenge and have raised more than
$1.6 million.
The other winners of this year's Spread the Net Challenge were Father Mercredi High school in Fort McMurray, (top secondary school, raised $10,168), Langara College in Vancouver (top post-secondary school, raised $14,625) and R.A. Riddell elementary in Hamilton, Ont. (wild card school, raised $16,355)
"I'm really thrilled beyond belief to be the top winner. I'm so proud to be part of this school community and knowing that we can all do this together," Jackson said.
