Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus is inviting local high school students to enter the Laurier Stedman Prize creative writing competition.
The biennial competition, which was founded in 2018, is funded by a gift from the late Mary Stedman, and is administered by the school’s English program.
Prior to her passing in 2014, Stedman served as managing director of Stedman’s Bookstore Ltd. for nearly 25 years and was a member of the executive of the Canadian Booksellers Association.
Lisa Wood, Laurier’s English program coordinator and associate professor of English and youth and children’s studies, said the competition was created to honour Stedman’s lifelong dedication to celebrating and promoting arts and culture.
“Mary Stedman was very active in bringing Laurier to Brantford,” said Wood. “She was part of the education group that put together the plan so she’s very special to us for that reason, but she was also deeply committed to young people, and to literacy and education in the Brantford-Brant area.”
All high school students within the Grand Erie and Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic district school board catchment area are eligible to enter the competition, including those who are homeschooled.
“We really want to get the word out that you don’t have to be in something like the Writer’s Craft class at BCI to be part of this competition. Home school students can be part of it, students at GELA can be part of it and we would even love to get Tollgate involved too because I have a feeling there are students at that school who would also love to get their stories out,” said Wood. “I think everybody should feel empowered to take part and if they’re interested, should give it a try. It doesn’t matter what school they go to or if they think they’re only good at something like rugby, if you have an idea for a story, we don’t want you to be excluded.”
The professor, who also serves as the coordinator of the Laurier Stedman Prize, added that ideally, they would like students to get involved early and as often as they can.
“This competition happens every two years so you can start in Grade 9 and be a part of it then, but also, let’s say if you graduate in 2025 and there wasn’t a competition that year but you wrote something, your story can still be submitted after you graduate,” said Wood. “Theoretically, any given student could compete three times over the course of their high school career.”
She said that students who are interested in taking part must submit an original, unpublished work of fiction that is 1,500 words or less, and that there are no restrictions on theme or genre.
“I think, sometimes students have it in their head that good fiction is serious fiction, but we are open to anything and so genre fiction is not a disqualifier by any means,” she said. “We’ve had students submit fantasy, we’ve had them submit science fiction and horror. We’re really open to whatever their imagination comes up with.”
Wood said while it can be daunting to start and finish an entire story, the competition provides an incentive for young people to get creative.
“From what I’ve heard from the teachers who have been part of it, it’s been a real boon in the classroom for getting students enthusiastic and engaged. It gives them something to really shoot for while they’re either working on their English assignments or when they’re at home writing their own stories,” she said. “On top of that, there’s also a financial incentive because it was designed to be, as far as we know, the most lucrative writing prize for young people in the world. Everyone on campus who takes part in this event says it’s one of the best things that happens at Laurier Brantford because these young people, they’re so fresh and enthusiastic, and we’re able to reward them for their hard work, and the quality of these submissions are always so impressive.”
Cash prizes will be given to the top six original short story submissions, including one $3,500 first place prize, two $2,500 second place prizes, and three $1,500 third place prizes. The remaining stories in the top ten will be awarded a merchandise prize and all stories entered in the contest by their schools will receive a participation prize.
Students who are interested in participating should contact their English teacher to get started. Each school typically selects four stories to advance to the competition, and if more than four get submitted, the school itself will determine which ones to enter.
All entries must be uploaded by their school’s teacher coordinator by April 2, 2026, and homeschool entries are to be submitted by March 26, 2026. The Laurier Stedman Prize awards celebration will take place on May 27, 2026.
“It’s a long way away, but if we want young people to start thinking about their stories, we want them to think about it long before the deadline,” said Wood.
She added that she hopes the people who participate, no matter the outcome, will be able to walk away with a sense of pride for their creativity.
“You know, I worry about the loss of creativity with the development of AI and I think it’s important for us to keep using our brains in creative ways that help to develop us cognitively and help us to communicate with other humans in the world,” said Wood. I think this competition can create a sense of validation and pride for the type of creative work that really goes under-recognized in our society these days. It’s also a venue where these kids can meet other young people like them at the competition and we have an evening just to celebrate them and their work.”
As far as advice, Wood said “just tell your story.”
“When you sit down in front of that blank screen in front of you, don’t worry about what anybody else will think,” she said. “That is your story, those are your words, so don’t be afraid, be brave. Anybody can try this, don’t feel intimidated, it’s meant to be a fun experience.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
