The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's Department of Fisheries and Land Resources has announced the provincial winner of the 2017 National Forest Week Poster Contest. Riverside Elementary Grade 5 student Katie Spurrell received her award at the Clarenville school in early December, surrounded by her family and friends. As part of the annual contest, Grade 5 students throughout the province are invited to participate and share their thoughts about forests and forestry related issues through art. As this year was a cross-Canada celebration of the country's 150 anniversary, students were invited to submit enteries under the theme Canada's Forests: Our Stories. Our Future using a poster to depict their thoughts.

As this year's winner, Katie received a framed copy of her poster, an Apple iPad and a Smokey the Bear Fun Pack. Her poster will also be permanently display at the Provincial Forestry and Wildlife Headquarters.

More information on the contest and past winners can be found here while a news release about this year's event can be found here.