​Students, staff and members of the community literally couldn't sit still during outdoor athletic events at Essex District High School because there were no bleachers. So they made a pitch to the Aviva Community Fund in September. Aviva has donated millions of dollars in the past 10 years to organizations "to create change within their community".

The EDHS Grade 12 Leadership class spearheaded the campaign , claiming that a new grandstand would "have a tremendous impact on school spirit and within the community". That enthusiasm was indisputably evident because they received tremendous support from their community in on-line voting and earned the school $100 thousand,  one of three Big Idea prizes​​ awarded across the country.

Along with ​money the school had already raised for the project, Essex District High School can now afford to build a safe, comfortable place to sit for games and community events.​​