Phillip Lacoste's winning video about miniature trains received 1,300 votes.
With votes from around the world, Phillip LaCoste, 16, won the My Alberta SouthWest Video Contest top prize with his submission titled Ultimate Trains. Accepting the prize on Phillip's behalf will be his father, Mr. Guy LaCoste, at a presentation in Nanton on September 7th.
Lacoste's short video captures the day in the life of a miniature train. When asked why he chose Ultimate Trains as the location for his video, LaCoste says, “Without a car, I couldn't get around to a lot of places in the region and the Garden Railway was a visually cool place to shoot a video.”
With the help of family and friends in the Nanton area and as far away as Montreal, Japan, Korea and Egypt, Lacoste received 1,300 votes. “We had a fun time contacting people we knew,” says LaCoste. “I used my Facebook account. I used my cell phone. My parents emailed all their work friends. Together, we emailed friends across the country and my dad even invited the provincial and national train model associations to vote.”
As for what inspired him to enter the contest, LaCoste explains it was his passion for video editing. The 16-year-old has a knack for IT and computer work and can now add videography to the list. Regarding his son's accomplishments, Phillip's dad, Guy LaCoste says, “I'm proud of what Phillip can do with video editing. He enjoys the challenge and wants to make 'over the top' videos.”
Lacoste plans to use the $1,000 in prize money to buy graphic design software and save the rest for school. When asked which of the prizes he plans to experience first, he said the Waterton Shoreline Cruise was at the top of his list.
The My Alberta SouthWest Video Contest began June 20th, 2011, an initiative of the Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance. The contest invited residents of Alberta to submit a video to “Show us your Alberta SouthWest”. Bev Thornton, Executive Director of the AlbertaSW Regional Alliance adds, “We are delighted with all of the video entries that show what is personally special to each entrant, and were thrilled to see how involved everyone was – particularly the young people.”
In addition to the $1,000 cash, prize packages were provided by:
- Alpine Stables
- Bayshore Inn
- Bluebird Motel
- Brown Creek Wild Rags
- Centre Peak High Country Adventures
- Chimney Rock B & B
- Cottonwood Village Retirement Residence
- Eldorado RV
- Lucasia Ranch Vacations
- Prince of Wales Hotel
- Ramada Inn & Suites Pincher Creek
- Sierra West Cabins & Ranch Vacations
- Southern Alberta Historic Sites
- Steeped Tea
- The Fort Museum
- Trail of the Great Bear
- Waterton Lakes Golf Course
- Waterton Natural History Association
- Waterton Shoreline Cruise Co.
- Wow and Then
Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance (AlbertaSW) is a group of 16 communities, working together for regional economic development. The collaborative initiatives focus on creating the right environment in which balanced growth can occur, increasing prosperity for all members. Alberta SouthWest is one of twelve regional economic development alliances (REDAs) in Alberta and represents a total membership population of 36,792 and covers an area of 16,705 square kilometres. These facts reflect where we are and who we represent. But what defines AlbertaSW is our love for our rural communities and the pride we take in living here. We want to see each other succeed, not only because we support each other but also because when one community thrives, there is the potential for every community to benefit. This is what drives us; and this is the key to our success as a REDA.
www.albertasouthwest.com or www.myalbertasouthwest.com
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