For Immediate Release

For More Information: Cynthia Shipley, Toronto Zoo Acting Manager, Marketing (416) 392-5938 Jennifer Donaldson, Bateman Program Coordinator Telephone : 800-563-9453 Email : [email protected]

ROBERT BATEMAN CONTEST LAUNCHES
COAST TO COAST
Thursday, March 3, 2005-Toronto- The sixth annual 2005 Robert Bateman National Wildlife Week Writing and Art Contest will be launched today at public zoos, including the Toronto Zoo, and aquaria across Canada. The Contest encourages youth to get to know their "wild neighbours". Robert Bateman's simple philosophy, is that caring begins with knowing and he agrees with Baba Dioum who claims "In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught."

Students from across Canada are invited to submit art entries which depict wildlife and writing entries which focus on how climate change is affecting life in Canada and the One-Tonne Challenge (http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/onetonne/).

Robert Bateman, Canada's foremost wildlife artist, launched the program March 2000 in Vancouver. The first year it received 14,000 entries, since then it has expanded from a provincial contest to include all Canadian provinces and territories and has attracted hundred of thousands of entries from youth of all ages.

"We are witnessing with alarming regularity the adverse effects of climate change on our planet," comments well-known artist Robert Bateman. "It is a complex problem that will require everybody's participation to help protect our environment. What could be a more important legacy than plants, animals, water and air? I challenge you to enter this contest as a 'small step for mankind'!"

Winning artwork and writing will be selected in May and published in the 2006 Robert Bateman Contest Calendar available across Canada at Wal-mart, Loblaws and the Real Canadian Superstores. Robert Bateman will personally congratulate contest winners on June 3rd 2005 in Kelowna, BC and on June 18th at the Toronto Zoo.

CONTEST DETAILS

• All entries must be postmarked no later than April 22, 2005.
• Winners will be notified by May 13, 2005.
• Contest information can be obtained by visiting www.gettoknow.ca