About the award
Objective
To help strengthen both literacy skills and Canadian historical knowledge by encouraging Canadian kids between the ages of 7–14 to create their own illustrated story based on any element of Canada’s past they find of interest.
Children should be encouraged to write an original story based on any aspect of Canadian history and heritage. Stories should be between 500–1200 words in length and should include 1–3 illustrations or archival photographs to accompany the story. Comic Strip formats are eligible; students should keep in mind a 5-page comic typically entails 500 words. Stories can be written in either English or French.
Stories will be evaluated by a panel of judges on the following basis:
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Creativity and originality
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Content and story composition
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Grammar, spelling and quality of writing
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Use of illustrations to support the story
All participants will receive a special certificate commending them on their participation.
Twenty-five stories will be selected in English and French for publication as a special digital edition of Kayak and published on our website. The contest deadline will be June 14, 2013. So start planning and drawing!
The top two writers, one French and one English, will receive a $1000 RESP and a trip to Ottawa.
Feel free to provide either of these two templates to your students to help them plot their story depending on the type that they want to write: a Graphic Comic or an Illustrated Story. These pages do not have to be followed to the letter, they are merely a guide to how illustrated stories and comics can be laid out.
Take a look at our 2011, 2010 and 2009 winning entries! We've put them up for everyone to see!
Learn more, read the rules, or submit now!