YOUNG ESSAYISTS CELEBRATE 150
The Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post are proud to present the winners of a provincial writing contest for students in grades 8-12.
The Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post — with the generous support of the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina — organized a youth essay content for students enrolled in grades 8-12 in Saskatchewan schools for Canada’s 150th birthday.
More than 200 entries came in from all corners of the province. Newsroom staff picked five finalists, and esteemed Saskatoon writer Yann Martel selected the top three essays.
The $1,000 first-place winner was Kathleen Smith of Prince Albert. In second, winning $500, was Sania Sami of Saskatoon. And picking up $250 for third place was Xinyi Zhang of Saskatoon.
Here, you can read the winning essays. More entries can be found on www.thestarphoenix.com and www.leaderpost.com.
Students wrote essays of a maximum of 800 words on one of the following topics:
Imagine the ultimate Canadian action hero and describe one of his or her adventures.
How do you imagine Canada will look in 150 years?
Write about a time when you were proud to be Canadian. What made you proud and what made you feel especially Canadian? When you look at Canada, what do you see? Each of these essays sees something a little different, bringing out one aspect or another of our country.
One young writer celebrates the opportunity to play volleyball, which she could not do in her native country.
Another praises the dizzying freedom in which he can become anything he wants.
And a third showcases an encounter between two indigenous women and some refugees from Syria — so the first to come to this land meeting the latest — and points to a characteristic noted by all the writers: the welcoming spirit of our country.
That is certainly something worth celebrating, our capacity to open our arms. Let us keep them open.