Image/City of Toronto Members of Toronto’s Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church in the 1890s
To recognize Black History Month, Mayor John Tory is introducing the Mayor's Black History Month Creative Writing Contest, which is designed for youth to engage on the topic of Black history and the achievements and contributions made by the community in Toronto.
In 1979, the City of Toronto became the first Canadian municipality to proclaim Black History Month, through efforts of many individuals and organizations such as the Ontario Black History Society.
The City of Toronto was shaped and developed with the help of Toronto's diverse communities, including black immigrants and black Torontonians.
Black History Month provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions that African Canadians have made and continue to make in Toronto in such areas as education, medicine, art, culture, public service, economic development, politics and human rights.
Contest Rules
Submission Topic
In 500 words or less, please tell us about a black Torontonian, whether past or present, who has contributed to Toronto’s diverse heritage and identity through his or her achievements and contributions to the city.
Submission Guidelines
The submission must be no more than 500 words in length and can be in the form of an essay, poem, song lyric, letter or any other form of creative writing.
Eligibility
The contest is open to youth who reside in the City of Toronto and are in one of two age categories: ages 11 to 13, or ages 14 to 17.
Submissions must be the original work of, and be written solely by, the entrant and submitted exclusively to this contest.
Limit of one entry per person.
Children of the contest's organizing committee members and contest judges are not eligible to enter.
Judging Criteria
Three judges will be selected from the community to review the entries received and select two from each age category as winners. Following are the criteria on which each submission will be judged:
How well the submission addresses the selected topic
How well the submission is organized
The use of examples to illustrate the author's point
Writing accuracy (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
Deadline
Submissions must be postmarked or received via online submission on or before Tuesday, February 16, 2016.
Prizes
The parent or guardian of each of the four winners will be notified by email. The winners will be invited to read their submissions during the Mayor's Black History Month reception on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at Toronto City Hall. During the reception, the four winners will receive a recognition scroll signed by the Mayor, including an achievement plaque.
Winning submissions will also be placed on the City of Toronto's website and social media channels.
Submission:link
(Source:City of Toronto) |