The Department of Health and Social Services (HSS) announced 14 schools have won this year's Drop the Pop NWT contest. Forty-eight schools from across the NWT competed in the campaign but the department recognized 14 schools for going that extra mile to promote health.

"Choosing healthy drinks makes a difference to the overall health of children and youth," stated Minister of Health and Social Services, Glen Abernathy in a news release.

The winning schools will be awarded prizes ranging from $800 to $1,500 in recognition of their efforts. Pop and other sugary beverages contribute to high obesity rates in the north. The NWT is consistently ranked near the top of the country in obesity rates, states the release.

Of the 14 schools, three are in the Beaufort Delta, five are in the South Slave, one is in the Deh Cho and another is in Ndilo. The remaining four winners come from Yellowknife school boards.

The campaign first began 12 years ago as a way to encourage students in the NWT to avoid drinking pop in order to live a healthier lifestyle. While choosing healthier drinks is still a central component to the campaign, most of the winning schools now go above and beyond by creating additional healthy living tasks and projects.

"The school was involved in various Drop the Pop activities between January and March that incorporated healthy eating behaviours, physical activity and sustainability. The school provided morning and afternoon snacks, student lunches, new snacks to try and had healthy cooking classes for the students in Grades 6 to 12," stated Richard McKinnon, principal of Helen Kalvak Elihakvik School in Ulukhaktok in a news release.

This year, students were asked to focus on four key pillars to living a healthier lifestyle, which were drinking healthier beverages, eating healthier snacks, learning to be more self-sufficient and fostering long-term healthy eating habits.