Two video production students from Chatelech Secondary School have just been awarded a top prize in the National Youth Privacy Video Contest.
The contest is run through the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and students Matt Paddison and Julian Figueroa placed first in this year's mobile devices category for their video Your Phone is Your Everything.
The short video shows Paddison finding a phone on the street and accessing the private information on it. A voice over from Figueroa talks about all of the sensitive information stored on the phone and the detrimental effects of someone else accessing that personal information.
"I hope it raises awareness about the issue," Paddison said, adding that about 95 per cent of students at Chat have personal cell phones they store information on.
Figueroa noted there are precautions people can take to keep information safe on their cell phones, such as setting up passwords, but said many don't think about it until it's too late.
He hopes the video will reach a lot of people and make them think about the privacy issues that could occur if a phone is lost or stolen.
The winning video has been posted on the commissioner's youth website at www.youthprivacy.ca for the public to view, and it has been uploaded to YouTube as well.
Chat video production teacher Paddy McCallum said he's pleased the government has awards like this for his students to strive for.
"It gives the students something specific to aim for and these social responsibility videos allows an opportunity for students to shoot something that is relevant to them," he said.
McCallum's video production students often take home at least one award for their entries in the annual Privacy Commission and Worksafe B.C. video contests.
Several students are currently finishing off entries for this year's Worksafe B.C. contest, Figueroa included. The contest is open to students in Grades 8 to 12 and entries must be in by April 13.
