The 5th edition of the "Ma plume contre le racisme" competition has been launched
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The latest edition (4th) brought together more than 200 participants including 30 finalists from 16 schools; LAKAY hopes this year to reach even more students and institutions throughout the region.
Under the theme "Our Differences, Our Strength. Writing to Understand, Acting to Unite," the organization LAKAY is launching the 5th edition of the contest "My Pen Against Racism" this year. In addition, a new award has been added to the competition, bearing the name of Céline Bellot: "Writing for Justice."
The contest invites students from the greater Montreal and Lanaudière regions to pick up their pens and speak out about racism, discrimination, and living together. They are invited to propose, through their words, pathways toward a more just and united society.
Giving Young People a Voice
Not only does the contest seek to raise students' awareness of the realities of racism and exclusion, but it should also allow them to develop critical thinking and empathy, while showcasing their writing talent. In doing so, they come to understand others' experiences, name injustices, and imagine solutions.
The last edition (4th) brought together more than 200 participants, including 30 finalists from 16 schools; LAKAY hopes this year to reach even more students and institutions throughout the region.
Key Dates
October 13, 2026: official launch of the contest
February 27, 2027: text submission deadline
March 27, 2027: awards ceremony
New Addition: The Céline-Bellot Award "Writing for Justice"
This year, a special award will be presented in memory of Céline Bellot. It will recognize the text that most powerfully and sensitively illuminates an experienced injustice — profiling, discrimination, exclusion — while opening a path toward equality and dignity.
A jurist and criminologist, Céline Bellot (1970–2026) was a full professor and director of the École de travail social at the Université de Montréal. Founder and director of the Observatoire des profilages, she dedicated her career to documenting racial and social profiling as well as the criminalization of marginalized individuals, through a collaborative research approach conducted alongside rights advocacy organizations.
Recipient of the Pierre-Dansereau prize from Acfas (2021) and a member of the Royal Society of Canada (2024), she passed away on January 4, 2026. Her commitment to justice and the dignity of all directly inspires the spirit of this contest.
A Call to Parents and School Teams
"Every text written by a student is a step toward a more just society. I invite parents to open the discussion at home and to encourage their children to write: their words matter, and they can change perspectives." — Pierre Richard Thomas, Executive Director of LAKAY.
Rules and participation details are available at lakaymedia.org/concours-de-texte.