Writing Kids

Canadian-eligible youth writing competitions
Poetry · essays · stories · journalism · plays · creative nonfiction
Filtered from polymythcalendar’s verified competition records. Every listing keeps its source link, age band, deadline, and eligibility note.
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13 writing competitions

13 writing competition listings are listed below. Use the controls above to filter them when JavaScript is available.

01Nov

Royal Canadian Legion Literary Contest

The Royal Canadian Legion and Legion National Foundation
Sunday, November 1, 2026 · Canada-wide via local Legion branches, grades 4 to 12

Local branch deadlines vary, so this placeholder marks the annual Remembrance contest window. Students submit an original essay or poem on Remembrance in English, French, or bilingual format. Junior essays are up to 350 words, intermediate up to 500 words…

20Nov

Polar Expressions Student Writing Contest 2026

Friday, November 20, 2026 · Submission deadline. Poetry up to 32 lines or a short story up to 450 words. Canadian students, kindergarten to grade 12. Free.

Submission deadline. Poetry up to 32 lines or a short story up to 450 words. Canadian students, kindergarten to grade 12. Free.

13Feb

OECTA Young Authors Awards

Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association
Saturday, February 13, 2027 · Ontario Catholic-school pathway, JK to grade 12

School-level deadline projected from the latest verified February cycle. Students enter short story, poem, nonfiction, and, from grades 5 to 12, play categories. English and French tracks…

20Feb

Meaning of Home Student Contest

Habitat for Humanity Canada
Saturday, February 20, 2027 · Canada-wide online, grades 4 to 6

Deadline projected from the latest verified January to February cycle. Students in grades 4 to 6 submit a 50 to 300 word composition, essay, or poem on what home means to them. Free, English or French…

28Feb

Ottawa Public Library Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest

Ottawa Public Library
Sunday, February 28, 2027 · Ottawa regional contest, ages 9 to 18

Deadline projected from the latest verified February cycle. Ottawa-area youth submit short stories, poems, or comics, with English and French opportunities. Free. This is a regional library contest, so Ottawa eligibility applies…

28Feb

River of Words Poetry and Art Contest

Sunday, February 28, 2027 · Deadline approximate, projected from the late-February window, verify. Poetry and art on a watershed theme. Students worldwide, kindergarten to grade 12. Free. Confirm the date on the site.

Deadline approximate, projected from the late-February window, verify. Poetry and art on a watershed theme. Students worldwide, kindergarten to grade 12. Free. Confirm the date on the site.

31Mar

Kids Write 4 Kids

Ripple Foundation
Wednesday, March 31, 2027 · Canada-wide online, grades 4 to 8

Annual deadline projected from the official October 1 to March 31 cycle. Canadian students in grades 4 to 8 submit original fact, fiction, prose, or poetry up to 5,000 words. Free…

31Mar

YABS Young Writers Award

Young Alberta Book Society
Wednesday, March 31, 2027 · Alberta province-wide, grades 4 to 9

Annual deadline projected from the official December 1 to March 31 window. Alberta students in grades 4 to 9 submit an original short story up to 2,500 words. Free. Winners receive books, certificates, and an online writing workshop with a published author…

01Apr

Indigenous Arts and Stories

Thursday, April 1, 2027 · Program appears on hiatus, verify before relying on it. Historically a March 31 deadline. Creative writing and art. Canadians of Indigenous ancestry, ages 6 to 29. Free.

Program appears on hiatus, verify before relying on it. Historically a March 31 deadline. Creative writing and art. Canadians of Indigenous ancestry, ages 6 to 29. Free.

01Apr

Vancouver Writers Fest Youth Writing Contest

Vancouver Writers Fest
Thursday, April 1, 2027 · British Columbia province-wide, grades 5 to 12

Opening date placeholder for the next spring cycle. BC students submit previously unpublished short stories or personal essays. Elementary submissions are up to 1,000 words and high-school submissions up to 1,500 words. Winners receive cash prizes…

30Apr

Queen's Commonwealth Writing Competition

Royal Commonwealth Society
Friday, April 30, 2027 · International Commonwealth contest, Canadians eligible, 18 and under

Deadline projected from the annual April 30 cycle. Entrants write one piece of up to 1,000 words responding to an official prompt, with forms including poem, letter, article, story, essay, or short script. Free…

31May

CNIB Braille Creative Writing Contest

CNIB
Monday, May 31, 2027 · Canada-wide, K to grade 12, braille submissions

Deadline projected from the official March 1 to May 31 annual window. Students submit a braille short story, essay, or poem in English or French on any topic, up to 4,000 words. Free. Cash prizes are awarded in category groups…

31May

James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award

Monday, May 31, 2027 · Submission deadline, projected from the annual May window. Any creative writing. Indigenous students enrolled in and resident in Ontario, under 18. Free. Twenty-five hundred dollars to up to six recipients. Confirm on the site.

Submission deadline, projected from the annual May window. Any creative writing. Indigenous students enrolled in and resident in Ontario, under 18. Free. Twenty-five hundred dollars to up to six recipients. Confirm on the site.