Canadian Civic Essay Contest 2026

• Essay submission in Microsoft Word file format
• Contextual Statement (100–300 words)

Who is eligible?

• Canadian youth aged 15–35, including newcomers and permanent residents, overseas Canadians, and international students studying in Canada
• High school students
• College or university undergraduate students
• Master’s, PhD, or professional degree students
• Early-career professionals, educators, practitioners, community researchers, or others no longer in formal schooling

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Submissions that rely on AI instead of original reasoning
• Essays that are not respectful, original, or civically responsible
• Submissions outside the contest’s scope

• Clarity of argument and structure
• Understanding of the civic issue
• Use of evidence or examples
• Depth of civic insight
• Accessibility and communication

• Submit the essay through the Google Form: https://forms.gle/P9k25mTuqdvzbhdw6.
• If needed, contact admin@glocalfoundation.ca before the deadline for accessibility accommodations or questions about the submission process.

• Submissions are reviewed by the GLOCAL Research Team.
• Volunteer Editors may support review and mentoring.
• Results are announced in Spring/Summer 2026.
• Outstanding essays may be published after editorial review.

• No prior research experience is required.
• No strict word limit is imposed.
• Submissions may be in English or French.
• AI tools may be used for brainstorming, editing, or clarity support, but not to replace original reasoning or argument development.