Humanist Canada Expands Student Essay Contest

TORONTO - March 3, 2021 - PRLog -- "Change Starts with You!" is the theme of Humanist Canada's third annual Student Essay Contest. This 2021 edition of the contest features a junior category for students age 17 and younger and a senior category for those age 18 to 25.

"Once again our contest challenges young writers to explore social and environmental issues from a humanist perspective," explained essay contest chair, Robert Hamilton. "Youth are passionate about social issues, the future and the environment. They're eager to participate in building and maintaining a fair and equal society, and this contest gives them a way to do that," he explained.

Total prize money has been doubled from previous years to $8,000. As before, essays can be submitted in either of Canada's official languages.

"This contest offers an excellent opportunity for young people to be heard. Humanist Canada invites students to write on a topic important to them and apply their critical thinking skills," explained Richard Thain, the philanthropist who first proposed the idea of the contest to the Humanist Canada board.

Essays must examine an issue through a humanist lens and be guided by secular values such as reason, evidence-based science, democracy and human rights. The entry deadline is May 21, 2021 by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Complete information for the essay contest can be found at:

https://www.humanistcanada.ca/programs/essay-contest/

Those with questions about the contest can e-mail: essay-contest@humanistcanada.ca.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

― Margaret Mead, Cultural Anthropologist

About Humanist Canada

At Humanist Canada, we strive to create a fair and equal society guided by critical thinking and compassion. Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life based on a profound respect for human dignity and the conviction that human beings are ultimately accountable to themselves and to society for their actions. It is a secular life stance free from religious dogma that affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical and meaningful lives.  For more information about Humanist Canada please visit:.

https://www.humanistcanada.ca/ or https://www.facebook.com/secularhumanismcanada/

Media contacts:

Robert Hamilton, Essay Contest Chair
Email: robert.hamilton3@icloud.com
Phone: (613) 325-2400

Richard Thain, Essay Contest Member
Email: rthain23@sympatico.ca
Phone: (613) 851-8337