Emerging Historians Writing Contest
Calling all teen writers and history buffs!
The Emerging Historians Writing Contest is open to local high school students in Grade 9, 10, 11, and 12! Students are encouraged to research, write, and submit a story about a piece of Pickering’s history that they feel needs more attention. What are the stories that have not been preserved? Whose stories need to be told?
Following submissions of the paper, a panel of judges will review each of the submissions and select one winner.
DEADLINE EXTENDED
Submissions will be accepted from May 1 - June 11.
Why submit to the contest? The winner will:
- Have their story join the Local History Collection and have their content featured in a two-month display at the Pickering Public Library
- Receive the “Excellence in Local History” award
- Receive a $75 Indigo gift card
Psst - Winning this would look great on your resume and applications to college and university!
Eligibility Requirements
- Current students in Grade 9, 10, 11, or 12
- Attend a high school in the City of Pickering (Dunbarton High School, Durham Alternative Secondary School, Pine Ridge Secondary School, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School)
This contest is not open to teens whose parents or guardians are employees of the City of Pickering.
Submission Specifics
- Choose a story from Pickering’s history that YOU think needs more attention. First person stories / interviews are encouraged (talking to owners of businesses, family members, neighbours, community leaders, etc.) Ideas that include and/or feature BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ histories are encouraged.
- Submit a two-page writeup on your topic. Must include:
- A snazzy title
- 2-5+ sources (scholarly or otherwise)
- 2-5 photographs
- Submit as word doc or pdf in a legible font (Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, etc.)
- Include your name, grade, and school, along with a brief biography (100 words maximum) with your submission; feel free to include any information you’d like to be shared!
Submissions will be assessed based on the creativity of topic, the thoughtfulness and depth of the storytelling, and spelling and grammar.
Looking for an idea to get started? Check out some of the below ideas to get brainstorming! No idea is too big or too small.
- Pickering's Muslim Community
- Where was the first mosque in Pickering? Who were the first Muslim community leaders in Pickering?
- Black History in Pickering
- Who were the first Black settlers in Pickering? What was their story?
- Immigration to Pickering
- When did diverse communities begin to settle in Pickering? Where did they come from? What was life like for them?
- LGBTQ2S+ stories in Pickering
- Who were/are the leaders in the LGBTQ2S+ community in Pickering? What is their story?
- What have been safe LGBTQ2S+ spaces during Pickering's history? What safe spaces are they now?
- Pickering’s Jewish Community
- Where was the first synagogue? What was it like being Jewish in Pickering in the 1920s?
- Your Immigration Story
- Do you have an interesting story about how your family came to be in Pickering? Where did you and your family come from? What was it like coming to Pickering?
- Restaurants
- What was the first Caribbean or Indian or Halal restaurant in Pickering?
- How did this restaurant help support or develop the community?
By submitting to the Pickering Public Library’s Writing Local History Contest, you consent to have your work temporarily featured in a display at the Pickering Public Library and permanently featured in the Pickering Local History Collection. All writers retain the rights to their work, accepted or otherwise.
We will not accept any work that in any way inflicts harm upon marginalized groups. Do not submit work that is racist, homophobic, misogynistic, ableist, ageist, or transphobic, it will be rejected immediately.
Emerging Historians Writing Contest Submission Form
Research, write, and submit a story about a story from Pickering’s history that YOU think needs more attention. First person stories / interviews are encouraged (talking to owners of businesses, family members, neighbours, community leaders, etc.) Ideas that include and/or feature BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ histories are encouraged. By submitting to the Pickering Public Library’s Writing Local History Contest, you consent to have your work temporarily featured in a display at the Pickering Public Library and permanently featured in the Pickering Local History Collection. All writers retain the rights to their work, accepted or otherwise. We will not accept any work that in any way inflicts harm upon marginalized groups. Do not submit work that is racist, homophobic, misogynistic, ableist, ageist, or transphobic, it will be rejected immediately."*" indicates required fields
