Contests | Kayak: Canada’s History Magazine for Kids

2010 Illustrated History Contest English

Objective
To help strengthen both literacy skills and Canadian historical knowledge by encouraging Canadian kids between the ages of 7-14 to create their own illustrated story based on any element of Canada’s past they find of interest.

Children should be encouraged to write an original story based on any aspect of Canadian history and heritage. Stories should be between 500-1200 words in length and should include 1-3 illustrations or archival photographs to accompany the story. Comic Strip formats are eligible; students should keep in mind a 5-page comic typically entails 500 words. Stories can be written in either English or French.

Stories will be evaluated by a panel of judges on the following basis:

Creativity and originality
Content and story composition
Grammar, spelling and quality of writing
Use of illustrations to support the story

All participants will receive a special certificate commending them on their participation.

Twenty-five stories will be selected in English and French for publication as a special digital edition of Kayak and published on our website KayakMag.ca. The contest deadline is October 8, 2010, so start planning and drawing!

The top two writers, one French and one English, will receive a $1000 RESP and a trip to Ottawa.

Feel free to provide either of these two templates to your students to help them plot their story depending on the type that they want to write: a Graphic Comic or an Illustrated Story. These pages do not have to be followed to the letter, they are merely a guide to how illustrated stories and comics can be laid out.

Take a look at our 2009 winning entries! We've framed them and put them up for everyone to see!

Name*

Address*

City*

Province or Territory*

Postal Code*

Phone

Email*

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Please note: If you are using browser I.E. 8, please email your entry to us directly to ensure complete delivery.

Contest Rules

Eligibility
Any student in a recognized school or homeschooled, between the ages of 7 and 14 years, can enter an illustrated story of their own creation based on any element of Canada’s past they find of interest. The Kayak Kids' Illustrated History Challenge is open to all nationalities, however, only Canadian residents are eligible for the top prizes of the trip to Ottawa and the RESP contribution of $1000. Non-Canadian resident submissions are still eligible for the Top 25 shortlist, subsequent digital publication and other related promotions.

Prize Description
All participants will receive a special certificate commending them on their participation. One winning French submission and one winning English submission will be selected as the best written stories of the year. These two students will each receive an RESP for $1000, and a round trip for two people leaving from a major city centre to go to Rideau Hall to attend the National History Awards Ceremonies presented by Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada.

Deadline
Contest closes on October 8, 2010. Online entries submitted via the provided form on KayakMag.ca are preferred, but entries received via other means will not be penalized or effect the judging outcome.

Entries may be emailed to contest@kayakmag.ca. Electronic entries must be sent before 4:00p.m. CST on October 8, 2009.

Hand-delivered entries must be received by 4:00 p.m. CST on October 8, 2009. Mail or hand-deliver entries to: Kayak Kids' Illustrated Story of Canada Challenge, Bryce Hall, Main Floor, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 2E9.

Judging
A prominent group of 5-6 individuals representative of the fields of writing, education, historical research, and publishing will be invited to review a short list of entries to help select the Top 25, as well as the English and French Award recipients. Judging will be, by its very nature, subjective and dependent on the professional editorial discretion of the judges.

Publication
Shortlisted entrants and winners' first names, home towns, provinces and submissions may be published on KayakMag.ca. Twenty-five stories will be selected in English and French for publication as a special digital edition of Kayak and published on our website KayakMag.ca. Kayak reserves the non-exclusive right to publish any entry in any or all magazines, websites and/or educational, promotional or other materials produced by the History Society.

Responsibility
Kayak cannot be held responsible for entries that are lost, damaged, or delayed during transportation.

Canada's National History Society is not responsible for any failure of the website during this contest. Nor is it responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of computer online systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software or any email, online or internet entry lost due to technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to an entrant's or any other person's computer or property related to or resulting from playing or downloading any material in the promotion.

By entering this challenge, you agree that any information you send to Kayak becomes the property of Canada's National History Society and Kayak, and should you win, your first name will be posted and or published.
This challenge is open to all Canadian residents, and who are not employees and immediate families of Canada's National History Society, The Beaver Magazine and Kayak Magazine. Subject to all applicable laws. Void where prohibited.

If you do not wish to remain eligible for this contest, you may notify Canada's National History Society in writing at Kayak "Kids' Illustrated Story of Canada" Challenge, c/o Kayak Magazine, PO Box 56060, Portage Place RPO, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0G9.

For further questions or comments regarding this contest please contact the History Society at the address above, at contest@kayakmag.ca, or by telephone at 1-888-816-0997.