Youth recognized for creativity

Okotoks students can gather inspiration from Remembrance Day stories and ceremonies this week to enter the Royal Canadian Legion’s annual poster and literary contest.

This is the first year the Okotoks Legion Branch #291 will run the contest through its club. In the past, students in Okotoks schools entered via the Turner Valley Legion.

Provincial vice-president Malcolm Hughes is proud of the work students have turned in over the years.

“I’ve been able to judge at the provincial level, the command level, in the past and I’ve seen some truly remarkable work,” said Hughes. “It’s a long, complex process but there is some incredible work. It’s very moving.”

The process begins with the Legion reaching out to local schools to have their students participate. Students submit work to their local Legion branch for judging and the winners move on to an area-level contest. Winners at this point will move on to the district level before being judged provincially and, finally, nationally.

There are four categories of contest entries: colour poster, black and white poster, poem and literary essay. Each must relate to a theme of remembrance, and there are size and length parameters for each age group from primary to senior.

“The national winners at the senior level are always invited with their parents to the national Remembrance Day ceremony where they lay a wreath on behalf of the youth of Canada,” said Hughes. “It’s quite a recognition of the youth program.”

Historically, the Turner Valley branch has been a national leader for the number of entries submitted by local youth, he said, and he believes having two local branches will be a positive thing, allowing more students from the region to move on to the “area” judging panel.

“There will be two sets of winners from the 20-odd schools here rather than just one set, so that will allow more children to be recognized for the work certainly locally and possible at the next level,” he said.

Hughes said the Legion recognizes not all teachers are able to fit the program into their lessons plans, and so the entry form is also available on its website for students to enter individually.

Homeschooled children or those who attend a school not participating can bring their entries directly to the Legion office in the Elks Hall, he said.

Okotoks Legion second vice-president Marcelle Tremblay began visiting Okotoks schools at the beginning of October to inform teachers of the contest details.

“Hopefully we will have a lot of response,” said Tremblay.

She hopes teachers will find a way to fit the Legion poster and literary contest into their curriculums, teaching creative writing or art with a theme of remembrance to help students develop their entries and learn about Remembrance Day.

“To me, there’s enough variety in the actual program to include the contest in any classroom in some way,” said Tremblay. “That would be a goal of mine, to have every single school have every kid participate.”

Okotoks youth are aware of the sacrifice made by war veterans and are learning an appreciation for those who serve their country, she said.

Tremblay credits that to parents having conversations with their children, and teachers who have brought talk of the war back into the classroom.

“The World War Two vets came back silent and that silence stayed for many years,” said Tremblay. “But these kids are so aware, and it’s great to see.

“The teachers really make such a difference, bringing the topic back into the school and making it important, so I do hope many will choose to participate in the program.”

Entry forms can be found online at www.legion.ca. For more information about the youth program, contact Marcelle Tremblay at 403-615-9235 or via email at [email protected].