4-H Canada Kicks Off Canada 150 Activities with New Public Service Announcement

Ottawa, ON—May 18, 2017—4-H Canada, one of the longest running youth organizations in Canada, is proud to announce the public launch of their Canada 150 Public Service Announcement “To Do List.” The inspiring new campaign, developed by Toronto agency Cleansheet Communications, illustrates the power of Canadian youth, committed to positively impacting communities across Canada and around the world.

"We are thrilled to launch this powerful new PSA celebrating 4-H Canada’s role in Canada 150 and the values of inclusion, diversity and inspiration our 4-H youth exhibit in their communities every day,” said 4-H Canada CEO, Shannon Benner. “For more than a century we have been developing responsible, engaged and confident youth leaders with the passion and skills to create sustainable change—something we continue to deliver through programming in areas relevant to today’s youth and the country’s economic success. There is truly no greater time than now for 4-H in Canada.”

As the first activity in 4-H’s Canada 150 Signature Project “Engaging Youth and Connecting Canadians,” this stirring PSA features 4-H youth taking part in hands-on skill building activities—from growing food and cooking to STEM exploration and community service—and highlights the values 4-H has been instilling in Canadian youth for more than a century.

“Young Canadians can make – and are already making – significant contributions to their communities. It is great to see initiatives like 4-H Canada that enable youth to develop strong leadership skills, which will help them contribute to making Canada a better place for generations to come,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Through vibrant, colourful and active cinematography, complemented by a youthful narration and uplifting music, “To Do List” captures the values of the modern 4-H Canada brand, one steeped in rich history and looking forward to the next 150 years of creating leadership opportunities for Canada’s youth through fun, inclusive and relevant programming.

“Taking the ‘Learn To Do By Doing’ mantra to heart allowed us to highlight 4-H's amazing breadth of activities and also show how practical learning helps kids become well-rounded individuals and ultimately, the kind of people who will lead Canada in the future,” said Scott Shymko, Associate Creative Director with Cleansheet Communications.

As the PSA rolls out, Canadians will have various opportunities to learn more about 4-H in Canada, and the role 4-H plays in building stronger communities led by responsible, caring and contributing youth. These range from local 4-H events engaging urban and new Canadian communities in conversations about food, agriculture, the environment and youth leadership, to the delivery of resource and curriculum kits for communities where the 4-H program can create a positive impact on youth and their families.

Watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcXJYVUWFPU.

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About 4-H Canada

For over 100 years, 4-H Canada has been one of the most highly respected positive youth development organizations in Canada. 4-H Canada has more than 24,000 members and nearly 7,400 volunteers. Our goal is to help young Canadians “Learn To Do By Doing” in a safe, inclusive and fun environment. We believe in nurturing responsible, caring and contributing leaders who are committed to positively impacting their communities across Canada and around the world. To learn more about 4-H Canada, please visit 4-h-canada.ca and follow our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

For more information, media may contact:

Elizabeth Jarvis
Director, Marketing and Communications
4-H Canada
ejarvis@4-h-canada.ca
1-866-759-1013 ext. 130
1-613-809-7141