**A&E MEDIA RELEASE**

A&E® Network today announced that Aidan Buhler, a Grade 12 student at O’Gorman High School in Timmins, Ontario has won First Prize in the Grade 9 to 12 category of the A&E Lives That Make a Difference Essay Contest.

Aidan’s essay on Lindsay Shepherd was chosen from over a thousand submissions received this year for the nationwide contest. As the First Prize winner, Aidan will receive a cheque for $2,000 and her teacher will receive $1,000 for use in her classroom.

“Aidan’s essay eloquently captured the central role the actions Lindsay Shepherd had on igniting discussion on gender identity and free speech in Canada in 2018,” said Sara Hinzman, Vice President Distribution, A+E Networks. “Her essay depicted the value of a diversity of opinions and perspectives in Canada’s institutions of higher education.”

Aidan’s essay focused on Lindsay Shepherd’s influence, writing that she “brought to light the important issues of freedom of speech and freedom or inquiry within the learning environment” She explained her impact on Canada and how “the issues raised by Lindsay Shepherd’s experience help Canadians understand the value of their educational institutions and the importance of free academic inquiry.”

Other winners announced today included Lauren West, a Grade 8 student at Fisher Park Public School in Ottawa, Ontario who was winner of the Grand Prize in the Grade 5 to 8 category. Sofia Gandola, a Grade 7 student at Assumption Catholic Elementary in St. Catharines, Ontario won First Prize in the Grade 5 to 8 category. Jade Guan, a Grade 12 student from Lambrick Park Secondary School in Victoria, BC was Grand Prize winner in the Grade 9-12 category.

About A&E Lives That Make a Difference Essay Contest

The contest is run annually and invites Canadian students in Grades 5 to 12 to write an essay on who they think made an important impact on Canadian society in the past year. A&E representatives along with a national panel of education experts judged the submissions. This year’s educational sector judges included Alex DeBona, Rose Dotten, Robert Nicholson, Iben Stothers, Christopher Johannsen and Della Fuller.

The winning essays were chosen on the following criteria: persuasiveness (33 per cent), creativity (33 per cent) and relevancy (33 per cent). Submissions for the 2018 Lives that Make a Difference Essay Contest will be accepted beginning October 1st through to December 31, 2018. For more information about the contest, visit: www.livesthatmakeadifference.com.

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