Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition: Manitoba Winner Heads to TorontoDiverse Minds Creative Writing Competition: Manitoba Winner Heads to Toronto Raeesa Hoque, a 17-year-old student from Collège Jeanne-Sauvé, is eagerly anticipating her trip to Toronto in September to participate in the Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition’s national finale. The competition, which launched in Manitoba in 2018, encourages Canadian high school students to write and submit books promoting diversity and inclusion for children in kindergarten through grade 5. Hoque won the Manitoba regional competition on June 9 with her book, “I Don’t Fit In.” The book, based on her own experiences as a child of Bangladeshi immigrants, explores themes of identity, acceptance, and belonging. Hoque expressed her surprise and delight at winning the competition. Hoque’s book aims to inspire others to embrace their differences and recognize the value of diversity. She hopes to further develop her writing skills through the competition and serve as a role model for others interested in writing. Adriana Glikman, program coordinator for B’nai Brith Canada, emphasized the importance of the competition in fostering diversity, inclusion, and understanding among young people. The goal, she said, is to “be proactive and promote understanding” to combat discrimination. Hoque will compete against regional winners from across Canada in Toronto on September 8. The winner of the national grand prize will receive $5,000 and have their book published and distributed to libraries and schools nationwide.
Students in Manitoba have just started their summer vacation, but Raeesa Hoque is already looking forward to September.
Then the 17-year-old Collège Jeanne-Sauvé student heads to Toronto to participate in the Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition, sponsored by B’nai Brith Canada.
“I’ve only been to Toronto once before,” Hoque said. “I’m looking forward to meeting the other competitors.”
Delivered
Raeesa Hoque (center) of Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition Manitoba sponsors Earl and Chery Barish.
The competition, which launched in Manitoba in 2018, invites Canadian high school students to write and submit a book about the values of diversity and inclusion for children in kindergarten through grade 5.
Winners of regional competitions will gather in Toronto on September 8 to learn who will win the national grand prize of $5,000. Their book will be published in hardcover by B’nai Brith and distributed to libraries and schools across the country.
Hoque won the Manitoba regional competition on June 9 with her book, I don’t fit in.
“I was shocked,” Hoque said of winning first prize. “When I saw the other entries, I didn’t expect to win.”
Her book, based on her own experiences as a child of immigrants from Bangladesh, is about a gray person living in a multi-colored world.
“I’m like that; I don’t fit into a specific box,” she said, noting that she has many interests. “I felt different, like I didn’t belong.”
But like the main character in her book, she said, “I don’t need to belong.”
“What I have, others lack,” she said. “We are all part of the puzzle and it’s okay to be different, it’s okay to be who you are.
“If everyone was the same, where would we be as a society?”
Hoque said in her book that she hopes others will feel the same way. “We can be proud to be different,” she said.
By participating in the competition she can further develop her writing skills.
Delivered
Manitoba Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition finalists (left to right): Elizabeth Piche, Lyla Rodin, Raeesa Hoque, Eliana Booy, and Adara Siwak; Hoque was selected to represent the province in Toronto in September.
“I feel like I’ve become a better writer after writing this book,” she said. “I’ve learned to take broad ideas and simplify them for a younger audience. There’s still a lot I can improve on, though.”
Adriana Glikman, program coordinator for B’nai Brith Canada, said the contest is a way to encourage and develop young writers so they can be role models for others and spread their message across the country.
Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter
“The goal is to promote diversity and inclusion and help students develop their writing skills,” she said, adding that it is also a way for the organization to not only combat discrimination but also “be proactive and promote understanding.”
In total, there were approximately 100 entries from across Canada and 40 from Manitoba.
“They were all really good books,” Glikman said of the Manitoba entries. “It was a tough job for the judges. For me, all the books were winners. The authors all did such good work and we can learn so much from them.”
Judges for the Manitoba competition included: Free press editor Paul Samyn, DASCH Foundation President Karen Menkis, Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights CEO Mena Gainpaulsingh, Manitoba Human Rights Commission’s Brenlee Carrington Trepel, Share the Magic Book program’s Chris Melnick, and local author Carol Matas.
[email protected]
The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you value that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more allows us to deepen our reporting on faith in the province. Thank you!
BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER
John Langhurst
Faith reporter
John Longhurst has written for the Winnipeg faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the US and blogs about media, marketing and communications at Making the News.
Read the full biography
Our newsroom depends on a growing readership to fuel our journalism. If you are not a paying reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its readership to fuel our journalism. Thank you for your support.
