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Shortly before Hayley Todesco completed Grade 12 at Queen Elizabeth High School this spring, she learned she had won the Canadian Stockholm Junior Water Prize. This qualified her to compete in the international competition this summer.

Competing against 28 other teams from across the globe, Todesco went on to win the international 2014 Stockholm Junior Water Prize on Sept. 3. She was presented with the award by H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden for inventing a method that uses sand filters to treat oil contaminated water and recover water for reuse.

A teacher from Queen Elizabeth High School, Anne Duguay, taught Todesco last year. She explains the tremendous commitment it took for Todesco to win this international prize. “Hayley is a long-time participant in science fair with a true passion for environmental science projects.  Her project on the use of bacterial columns for the bioremediation of oil sands tailings required a two-year commitment and demonstrates the effective use of this approach to wastewater treatment in the oil sands.  Hayley is an exceptional academic student whose passion for science and the environment also involves volunteer work through the school’s Youth Volunteer Corps which supports a wide range of social and environmental causes.”

Read more about this amazing accomplishment

Watch a video about Hayley Todesco’s project and prize

Congratulations and good luck, Hayley Todesco!