Finn Lee-Epp has his sights set on becoming a movie director, and his recent win in a City of Calgary video contest may have him one step closer to that dream. Finn’s innovative video took the concept of distracted driving to an extreme by staging a game of Scrabble between the driver and front-seat passenger inside a moving vehicle. His message was clear: if playing a board game while driving seems absurd, so should texting or any other distractions.
“You would never do a crazy thing like play a board game inside a moving vehicle, so why would you text and drive?” Finn, 16, emphasized. His video cleverly spelled out the words “drive safe” on tiles between the front seats, driving home the point with a mix of humour and seriousness.
Finn’s passion for filmmaking, coupled with concerns about distracted driving, shone through in his project and he’s encouraging fellow students across Calgary to throw their hats into the ring this year as The City launched the 2025 Travel Safe Student Video contest on February 3, 2025.
The contest is not only a fun and engaging way for students to think about traffic safety, it’s part of the Calgary Safer Mobility Plan, a strategic partnership between The City and Calgary Police Service aimed at improving the overall safety of our transportation network. A key target identified in the plan is to achieve a 25-per-cent reduction in the number of major injuries and fatal collisions.
“We know students have unique perspectives when it comes to traffic safety and we can’t wait to see solutions through their eyes,” said Jacquelyn Oriold, Mobility Education Specialist with The City of Calgary. “Whether that’s a video from a Kindergarten student who is worried about safety as they walk or wheel to school, or from a middle school student who worries about drivers who speed, or a teenager’s perspective on navigating during rush hour, we can’t wait to see and potentially showcase their work”.
“We are always striving to improve the transportation network for the safety of all users,” added Oriold. “A critical piece of this plan is education and engagement and Calgary youth and their voices are an important part of that. We are looking forward to understanding their traffic safety concerns and input.”
Finn was thrilled to be invited to the public screening event where his submission was showcased. “It was awesome to see appreciation for my video by a room full of strangers. I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”
His advice to other aspiring filmmakers is to be confident and creative. “Have a clear vision and put in the effort. This experience helped stretch my self-confidence, and I am so glad I took the chance.”
Finn’s hard work paid off when he was announced as a finalist, a moment he described as a mix of nervousness and relief. “I didn’t expect that I would win, but it was a great feeling,” he said.
But you don’t have to have Hollywood in your sights to enter this contest.
“This opportunity is for everyone,” said Oriold. We are inviting students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to participate and tell us all about your traffic safety concerns.”
We invite all Calgary students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 to create an original 30-second video to promote safety while traveling on city streets, sidewalks and/or pathways for a chance to win cash prizes.
Finalists will be featured at a public viewing party and winning videos will be showcased in future safety education initiatives and published online.
You can produce your original work solo, or team up with classmates, friends or family.
Finalist videos will be celebrated publicly at a movie screening on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the Central Library in the Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall, where contest winners will also be announced.
Key dates:
- Feb. 3 – April 30, 2025: contest submission entry window
- April 30, 2025 (at 11:59 p.m.): Contest closes
- May 14, 2025: Public screening event of finalists and winners announced
For full contest rules, eligibility, waiver, tips and resources visit calgary.ca/travelsafevideo.
For general inquiries about the contest email: streetsafekids@calgary.ca