Join twelve of Canada’s leading commentators whose ideas and debates surrounding fundamental Canadian issues culminated in the 1999 publication Great Questions of Canada, and enter the Historica-Dominion Institute's GREAT QUESTIONS OF CANADA ESSAY COMPETITION!
ESSAY COMPETITION RULES
* Participants must be BETWEEN 17 AND 25 YEARS OF AGE.
* Contest is open to CANADIAN STUDENTS in high school, college or undergraduate programs. Home school and Inquiry Based Learning students are also eligible.
* Essays can be submitted in either English or French.
* Essays should be no longer than 1,500 WORDS.
* Participants must include the NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION OF A TEACHER or instructor who has supervised and/or supported the submission. This person should be able to vouch for your eligibility as per the competition requirements.
Submissions of fifteen or more from a single class will be considered for the CLASS PRIZE OF AN HISTORICA-DOMINION INSTITUTE SET OF BOOKS. Class submissions can come from any high school, college or undergraduate university class where students are 17-25 years of age. PLEASE NOTE: Class submissions should be submitted via the website, noting the teacher’s name as the supporting teacher. All class submissions must be received by JUNE 30, 2011.
RECOGNITION
This is your chance to win cash prizes and have your essay published on this website!
All participants who provide a valid email address will receive a Certificate of Participation acknowledging their hard work and contribution to the Great Questions dialogue.
PRIZES
FIRST PLACE (1 each in the English and French categories) - $1,500 cash prize!
* A trip to Ottawa (flight and one night’s accommodation) for the awards ceremonies in November 2011, made possible by Canada's History Awards.
* Winning participants under 18 years of age need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Flight and accommodation of the guardian will be provided by The Historica-Dominion Institute.
* The winning essay and a photo of the author will be published on this website as well as The Historica-Dominion Institute website.
FIRST RUNNER UP (1 each in the English and French categories) - $500 cash prize!
* A selection of The Historica-Dominion Institute books.
* The First Runner-Up’s essay will be published on this website and The Historica-Dominion Institute website.
CHOOSE 1 OF 6 KEY DEBATES
KEY DEBATE #1
Founding Concepts
Some commentators have taken to calling Canada a nation of institutions not ideas. Are there a set of principles upon which Canada was founded and Confederation built? How have these principles evolved? Are they relevant to understanding and animating today's political culture and values?
KEY DEBATE #2
Identity Revolution
In the last century women have been enfranchised, attitudes towards First Nations people have changed and the ethnic composition of Canada has shifted markedly. How have personal and official conceptions of identity changed over time? What political and cultural changes will Canada's identity revolution bring next?
KEY DEBATE #3
After Unity
The threat of Quebec separation has dominated Canada's political discourse for the better part of the last half-century. If the unity issue could somehow be brought to a successful resolution, what pre-existing or entirely new national preoccupations would claim Canada's political centre stage?
KEY DEBATE #4
Canada & The World
During the cold war, Canada enjoyed considerable influence as a middle power. What are the defining characteristics of the post-cold war world and how do they affect Canadian interests abroad? What steps can Canada take to ensure a prominent voice in world affairs into the next century?
KEY DEBATE #5
Heroes & Symbols
Canadians are largely ambivalent about their heroes, particularly when compared to the mythology-rich United States. What are the origins of this predisposition? Has Canada suffered from its unwillingness to create national heroes? Or, is our aversion to celebrating heroes and heroism quintessentially Canadian?
KEY DEBATE #6
Does History Matter?
Research abroad and in Canada has questioned the existence of a common public memory. Is this a new trend? Does it matter in an increasingly technologically oriented present? And if something is to be done what dangers and challenges lie in invigorating a common History?
Contact Information:
For inquiries: greatquestions@historica-dominion.ca
For submissions: click here
Website: http://www.greatquestions.com
