OTTAWA, April 19 /CNW/ - The heat was on this morning as 11 CanWest CanSpell National Spelling Bee finalists took the stage to see who would spell their way to the top and take the crown as Canada's 2008 official word wizard.               

Family, friends and fans were on the edge of their seats throughout the entire competition as the finalists endeavored to spell some of the trickiest words in the book. Although many left the crowd speechless with their spelling prowess, after 21 rounds only one speller reigned supreme.

Emma Brownlie, hailing from our nation's capital and sponsored by the Ottawa Citizen, swept the competition and captured the coveted 2008 CanWest CanSpell Cup with her winning word - hamadryad, a word which stems from mythology and means the nymph or spirit of a particular tree. 

Highlights of the fourth annual CanWest CanSpell National Spelling Bee Final will air nationally on the Global Television Network and NTV (Newfoundland Television Network) tonight, April 19, at 8:00 p.m. Not only will television viewers from coast to coast be able to watch this morning's super spellers, they will also get a unique look into the family and school lives of some of these talented youngsters, as crews have been following their spelling progress since the regional events took place in February and March.     

"Watching these students compete for the CanSpell Cup, you see an amazing array of talented, well-rounded and accomplished young Canadians who exude confidence and poise," said David Asper, Executive Vice President of Canwest and Chairman of National Post. "I have been truly captivated by the dedication and spirit of these bright young minds, and am so pleased to offer viewers from across the country an inside look at the fun and excitement that surrounds this competition."

In a few short weeks, Emma will join her 21 fellow 2008 CanWest CanSpell National Spelling Bee contenders at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, taking place May 29 and 30 in Washington D.C. Fans, friends and family members can follow their progress at the Scripps Bee through continuous updates at www.canspell.com.