What is the Braille Creative Writing Contest?
Since 1997, CNIB has organized a Canada-wide Braille Creative Writing Contest for children and youth. This important competition celebrates braille literacy and encourages young people to flex their creative muscles while practicing their braille skills. Put the power of literacy at your fingertips! Write a short story, essay, or poem on any topic or re-purpose something you've written for school this year.
Who can participate?
The contest is open to primary and secondary students (grades K-12) who are blind or partially sighted and live in Canada.
What can I win?
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, first, second and third place contest winners in their respective categories will receive a cash prize! Winning submissions may also be published on cnib.ca. Plus, a few lucky winners will be invited to read their submission at the Connecting the Dots Conference! The awarding of any and all prizes is at the discretion of the judges, and all decisions are final. Contest winners will be notified via email in fall 2023.
What can I submit?
Write a short story, essay, or poem on any topic (in English or French).
We accept original poems and stories written in:
- Contracted or uncontracted braille (and everything in between)
- Perkins or computer (6-key entry)
- Computer braille is accepted, but all braille contractions must represent the work of the student, not braille translation software
- If an entry is in partially contracted braille, the student must also send a teacher's letter explaining which contractions have been taught to date; the teacher's letter may also explain any special circumstances
How to Enter
Contest submissions for the 2024 Braille Creative Writing contest will open March 2024. Please check back then. For more information about the Braille Creative Writing Contest, please contact Karen Brophey, Central Lead, Literacy at karen.brophey@cnib.ca.
What are the contest categories?
Story/Essay
- Group One (Grade K-2)
- Group Two (Grades 3-5)
- Group Three (Grades 6-8)
- Group Four (Grades 9-12)
Poetry
- Group One (Grade K-2)
- Group Two (Grades 3-5)
- Group Three (Grades 6-8)
- Group Four (Grades 9-12)
Who are the judges?
Meet your judges for the 2023 CNIB Braille Creative Writing Contest!
Alisha Sevigny is the award-winning author of Give Me a Snickle!, as well as the award-nominated adventure series, Secrets of the Sands, (The Lost Scroll of the Physician, The Desert Prince, The Oracle of Avaris) and contemporary young adult romances, Summer Constellations and Kissing Frogs. She enjoys working with and helping other writers on their creative path!
Mireille Messier has published over thirty books, some in French, others in English, for children of all ages. Her books have been nominated for (and sometimes have even won!) many literary awards including the Hackmatack, Rocky Mountain, Shining Willow, Blue Spruce and Governor General's Awards. Mireille has also been a volunteer reader for CNIB. Mireille lives in Toronto with her husband, two wonderful kids, five very fluffy cats, two budgies and over a hundred goldfish