Humanist Canada, a national voice for humanism in Canada has announced the return of its (third annual) student essay contest for 2021. With thousands of dollars in prizes (for both English and French language essays) and a far more open field, this year’s contest design is far more inclusive and inviting!
You may want to spread the word!
The 2021 contest deadline has been set as May 21, 2021 and the organizers have provided a Frequently Asked Questions page for those who may have questions.
In 2020, Humanist Canada had a designated theme (Religion and Humanism in Education) that students were asked to write upon. On the current announcement there does not appears to be a theme. Instead, the organizers have provide the guidance that recommended topics include:
- Humanism and society (e.g., religious schools, blasphemy laws, climate change, etc.)
- Humanism and well-being (e.g., sexual and reproductive health, dying with dignity, etc.)
- Another Humanist issue (e.g., issues discussed in Humanist International’s Freedom of Thought report https://fot.humanists.international/countries/americas-northern-america/canada/)
This seems to be sufficiently broad to encourage any number of submissions – particularly in light of the uniquely-worded definition of humanism that appears on the contest FAQ page: “Humanism is a dynamic way of life that is guided by rational thought, inspired by music and art and motivated by ethics, compassion and fairness.“
Another change in the competition since 2020 appears to be who the competition is open to. In 2020, Humanist Canada stated that “We welcome Canadian high school students to submit their strongest ideas, thoughts, and arguments to us.” For 2021, the competition seems to have been opened up with wider eligibility criteria:
- Anyone enrolled in a Canadian educational institution/ Canadian citizen studying abroad
- Junior Category: 17 years old and younger on May 21, 2021
- Senior Category: 18-25 years old on May 21, 2021
In addition, the competition expects to award prizes in each of two streams – English and French. Wow! Talk about opening up the field.
There is a contest submission form on the Humanist Canada website. This is a sweet opportunity for some talented students to earn some much-needed tuition money or to launch themselves on a writing career!
About Humanist Canada
Humanist Canada (HC) promotes education and awareness of humanism. We are a resource for secular groups and causes across Canada. We support the advancement of scientific, academic, medical, and human rights efforts.
Citations, References And Other Reading
- Featured Photo Courtesy of : https://www.thefire.org/get-involved/student-network/
- https://www.humanistcanada.ca/programs/essay-contest/faqs/
- https://www.humanistcanada.ca/programs/essay-contest/
The views, opinions and analyses expressed in the articles on Humanist Freedoms are those of the contributor(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the publishers.
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