Poster on white background with an illustration of a pencil in blue and pink; Asian Institute logo is centred at the bottom. Poster reads "Pier 21 International Youth Writing Contest 2022 Write and essay of up to 1000 words in response to the quote “We have always lived in a pandemic of racism.” Please submit by July 31st at 11:59PM EST."

Named after Pier 21—the gateway to Canada for countless immigrants during the mid to late 20th Century—this student-led, faculty supported writing contest provides a platform for youth around the world to share their reflections on the topic of racism. It is also an opportunity for youth to develop their writing skills while navigating a sensitive topic.

“We have always lived in a pandemic of racism.”

Submit a piece of written work about your reflections on the given quote. We are interested in hearing your story and unique perspective about the topic; the use of personal narratives to inform your writing is highly encouraged.

Submission: All essays are to be submitted through this form by July 31st, 2022 at 11:50pm EST. Winners will be announced during the fall of 2022.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants must be aged 14-21 years old (as of January 1st, 2022)
  • The essay must be the sole original work of the applicant, only one entry will be accepted per applicant. Essays must not have been previously published in any form
  • The essay must address the quote given
  • The essay must be written in English, 12 point font, and must not exceed 1000 words
  • (strict requirement; please indicate word count at the end of the essay). Include the title of your essay on all pages of your document submission
  • Do not indicate your name/any identifying information in the document. All submissions are reviewed through double-blinding.

*The contest is free to all interested applicants meeting the age requirement, regardless of nationality and background.

Awards

  • Cash prize: (1st place) $500CAD, (2nd place) $250CAD, (3rd place) $100CAD
  • All winners will be invited to a public event to speak about their essays/topic, hosted by the Asian Institute’s East Asian Seminar Series
  • Top responses will be published in the Asian Institute’s (U of T) undergraduate academic journal Synergy

How are Winners Determined?

All eligible entries will be assessed by the Pier 21 screening team, from which the top five entries will be ranked by the panel of five finalist judges to select the final three winners. All entries will be assessed according to the following criteria:

  • Relevance: the extent to which the essay addresses the quote/topic
  • Creativity and originality
  • Clarity and depth of writing
  • Writing accuracy and style (punctuation, grammar, spelling)

*All contest results are final and up to the discretion of the contest’s organizers.

Notification

  • The winners will be contacted by email on the announcement date.
  • Winners have 5 business days from the date of notification to accept the nomination and prize; the Pier 21 contest organizing team shall not be liable for late/lost/unsuccessful efforts to notify the winners.
  • If a potential winner does not comply with the rules listed, the Pier 21 contest organizing team reserves the right to void any unresponsive entry and select another eligible entrant for the prize; the Pier 21 contest organizing team shall be fully and completely released and discharged from any liability or responsibility in this regard.

For any inquiries, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at pier21contest@gmail.com.