Ottawa’s youth showcased remarkable talent and creativity, with strong participation in the 2026 Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest. Across all categories: poetry, short stories, and comics, the contest received an impressive 337 submissions in both French and English.
The judges—Catherine Austen, Khaleefa “Apollo the Child” Hamdan, Amelinda Bérubé, Pierre‑Luc Bélanger, and Éric Péladeau—faced the difficult task of choosing among so many exceptional entries. However, they greatly enjoyed the experience and were delighted to explore the imagination, dreams, and expressive storytelling of the participants.
“Outstanding submissions this year, with plenty of thrilling fantasy, zany humour, moving drama, a few chills, and some sparks of love,” shared Catherine Austen, judge in the category of English short fiction. “I’m amazed at the creativity and insight of these awesome authors, and I feel sad for everyone who doesn’t get to read all the entries”.
Pierre‑Luc Bélanger, judge in the category of French short story and poetry “found great joy in reading finely crafted short stories and deeply moving poems. Ottawa’s young Francophone authors are overflowing with imagination.”
For Khaleefa, judge in the category of English poetry, the contest plays a meaningful role in shaping future generations of writers, carrying the unique responsibility of nurturing tomorrow’s artists and creators. This year's experience left him with a particularly strong impression and the sense that “the future of poetry in Ottawa is in very safe hands.”
The support and contribution of the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association, made this contest possible. The winning entries will be compiled in an anthology titled Carte Blanche, which will be made available in December 2026.
Meanwhile, browse through the list of winners of this year’s Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest and celebrate with us these remarkable talents in our community.
Congratulations to the 2026 Awesome Authors!
9-12 Category
Poetry (English)
1st place: Emma Mai (11 years old), St. Cecilia Catholic School, Wake Me Up
2nd place: Leanna Paske (9 years old), École élémentaire catholique George-Étienne-Cartier, Let Love Be Your Lantern
3rd place: Alina Wang (11 years old), Stittsville Public School, Spring Blossoms
Poésie (français)
1st place: Maève Dutrisac, École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, Les saisons
2nd place: Adèle Taillefer (12 years old), École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, La femme invisible
3rd place: Neesha Laur (9 years old), École élémentaire publique Michaëlle-Jean, Mon rêve
Short Story (English)
1st place: Addison Waselnuk, Homeschool, Zora and the King’s Rule
2nd place: Serena Willow Kenall (12 years old), Letters
3rd place: Max H. Barnett (11 years old), Churchill Alternative School, Celsius
Nouvelle (français)
1st place: Chloé Shedden (11 years old), École élémentaire catholique Jonathan-Pitre, Madame Pistache à la recherche du diamant
2nd place: Maéve Dutrisac, École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, La bouteille
3rd place: Éloïse Poirier (12 years old), École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, Retour à la montagne
Comic (English)
1st place: Nadia Idnani (10 years old), Homeschool, Life with Brothers
2nd place: Andrei Osotkin (10 years old) and J.J. Scagnetti (10), École élémentaire publique Grande-Ourse and Sir Winston Churchill Public School, The food-verse!
3rd place: Violet Ahlgren (11 years old), Roch Carriere Public School, The Missing Statue
Bande dessinée (français)
1st place: Megumi Villeneuve (9 years old), École élémentaire catholique Montfort, Être normale, est-ce possible?
2nd place: Annabelle Revie (12 years old), École secondaire De la Salle, Une fée en ville
3rd place: Andrei Osotkin (10 years old), École élémentaire publique Grande-Ourse, Les grilles-pains sont chaud
13-18 Categories:
Poetry (English)
1st place: Jena Diab (13 years old), Frank Ryan Catholic Intermediate School, "I Sat Watching Them”
2nd place: Sara Mahdavi (14 years old), Canterbury High School, From a distance, everything behaves.
3rd place: Maria M (14 years old), 9 Lives
Poésie (français)
1st place: Mayssara Boudjeltia (18 years old), École secondaire publique Pierre-de-Blois, Mais que diable faisais-je ici?
2nd place: Edith René (17 years old), École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité, Face à l'abîme
3rd place: Mustafa Abu-Dieh (17 years old), Entre plume et algorithme
Short Story (English)
1st place: Sara Mahdavi (14 years old), Canterbury High School, Halfway
2nd place: Violet Stocker (13 years old), École secondaire catholique L'Escale, One Last Chance
3rd place: Chethna Adikari (15 years old), Merivale High School, Decadence to Deception
Nouvelle (français)
1st place: Edith René (17 years old), École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité, Lettre d’amour à la littérature
2nd place: Eli Ernst-Fontaine (18 years old), Dissidence
3rd place: Felix Madon (16 years old), École élémentaire catholique George-Étienne-Cartier, La Guerre de la Pensée
Comic (English)
1st place: Sienna James (17 years old), Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School, All in a Day’s Work
2nd place: Aubrey Caron (15 years old), Canterbury High School, Eugene the Mudskipper
3rd place: Raphaël Rival (14 years old), Colonel By Secondary School, So Who Brought the Frisbee?
Bande dessinée (français)
1st place: Anabelle Hall (13 years old), École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, Le vampire divergent
2nd place: Sofia Cipcigan (16 years old), École secondaire publique Omer-Deslauriers, Manie minou
3rd place: Edith René (17 years old) and Isla Elieff (18 years old), École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité, Tout ça pour un projet de science...