VANCOUVER, Oct. 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Vu Nguyen of Vancouver had grown used to his room being an eyesore, but thanks to The Co-operators, Mr. Nguyen will be able to "reclaim" his space! Mr. Nguyen was presented with a cheque for $6,500 by local Co-operators Financial Advisor, Jordan Schnoor, as the winner of The Great Space Race contest sponsored by The Co-operators.

This summer, contestants across Canada competed for a chance to win $6,500 to improve their home by creating one-minute videos of their worst living space.

The public had the opportunity to vote for the "worst" living spaces, and Mr. Nguyen's video was the clear favourite. His video featured a talking teddy bear, his dog Jackson and a catchy play on words from the contest to showcase his cluttered and poorly decorated space. His creativity helped the video stand out from the other entries, and he won $6,500 cash!

Kevin Le of Hamilton took home $700 worth of prizes for second place, and Christine Poulin of Bowmanville, Ontario was awarded $250 for third.

"The Great Space Race contest was a unique way for The Co-operators to get involved in our community, using social media," said Jordan Schnoor, Financial Advisor. "It was also a great way for people in our community to get engaged and involved with us. Congratulations to all our winners, especially Vu. Enjoy reclaiming your space!"

The Co-operators has 13 Financial Advisors in the Vancouver area who offer wealth management products and all types of insurance including home, auto, life, group, business, farm and travel insurance. As a Canadian-owned co-operative, The Co-operators has deep roots in Canadian communities and its staff and Financial Advisors are actively involved in giving back to the communities in which they work and live. Local Financial Advisors in the Vancouver area are your best source of financial planning and insurance advice. To make sure you and your family have the insurance protection you need, visit your nearest Financial Advisor's office, call us, or visit www.cooperators.ca.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $36 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada and Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. As a proud member and supporter of the co-operative sector, The Co-operators is pleased to celebrate 2012: The International Year of Co-operatives. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.

SOURCE: The Co-operators